Quotes: Portland Timbers vs. D.C. United
Portland Timbers Quotes
Head coach John Spencer
On the overall result:
“I said to them we got out of the game what we thoroughly deserved, that was zero points. D.C. United said they were going to come and silence the crowd and be the first team to win at JELD-WEN, they did one of the two things. They never silenced the crowd, but they did win the game. I take my hat off to them, I think they came in and played a good game. I thought they were better than us individually and collectively on the day and we didn’t deserve to get anything from the game.”
On three straight Portland PKs, the first two negated by D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid coming off his line early:
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my career, but I think Jack Jewsbury showed a lot of confidence stepping up there because there was a lot of anxiety in the stadium waiting for the ball to hit the back of the net. That’s why he’s the captain; he rose to the occasion and put it in the back of the net for us.”
Captain, midfielder Jack Jewsbury
On the overall result:
“It’s disappointing the way we came out in the first half, we shot ourselves in the foot and gave up an early goal. I thought we fought back fairly well to get even.”
Defender Jeremy Hall
On moving forward following the first home loss:
“We just have to regroup, we have plenty more games. We’re not worried about it, we’ve just got to keep plugging away and get back to the basics.”
On any positives to take away from the loss:
“The only positive is that we came back and fought back 3-1 down. We just have to come out from the first whistle like we’ve done all year. Coach said we’re a blue collar team, a team that fights from the opening whistle and we didn’t do that. We dug ourselves a hole.”
D.C. United Quotes
Head coach Ben Olsen
On the game overall:
“It’s a big step for us. I don’t want to blow it out of proportion too much because in this league on any given day, you can beat a team. I was proud of the way we defended set pieces. We had a bunch of men out there and they showed that we have the ability to compete physically with a pretty demanding Portland team when it comes to set pieces. That’s been a weak spot of ours and I thought we did a great job with it. What I’m most proud about today was, after that call – the second call, to regroup after that, in front of this crowd, shows a lot of character from every person on that field.”
On the rulings by the assistant referee to retake the penalty kick twice:
“I have to watch the game again. I have no idea what was going on. Around the world everyone’s off the line. When’s it a foul?”
On getting three points on the road with key players injured and unavailable:
“Well the guys we had out there dug deep, got the task today. It was about work. It was about being men and dealing with set pieces. It’s not fun to come here and play because it’s tough to play soccer. It’s about getting the balls in the box. But that’s the reality when you come here. Historically we have lost when the field is small, when it’s turf, when it’s a real gritty game. And the guys today were fed up with that and they showed that they can compete physically with any team in this league.”
On the atmosphere of JELD-WEN Field:
“It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable. You have to come here and play to the field, but the atmosphere is unbelievable. If you can step away and look at it from a league perspective – what a great place, what a great environment and what a great job the owner and the whole franchise have done to create a great atmosphere.”
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid
On having to face three consecutive penalty kicks:
“I’ve never been in a situation like that. I definitely don’t agree with those calls. I don’t know what (the assistant referee) expects of me. It happens everywhere around the world. I was not even half a foot off my line, I don’t believe, and (the assistant referee) calls (the violation) twice. On the second one, I definitely kept it in my mind, ‘Stay back and make the save. React.’ But we won and that’s all that matters. We got the three points in a tough arena. Hats off to the Timbers and their fans. We’re going to keep moving forward toward to LA.”
On what it means to be the first team to come to Portland and leave with three points:
“It means a lot. The Timbers have a great organization here. They have a great stadium. They have unbelievable fans, and hats off to them. They’re helping build this league, with what they’re doing with this stadium. And the fans’ loyalty – hats off to them. But being the first team to come here (and win), after five games unbeaten for them – that’s an accomplishment we’re definitely going put in our pockets and use as confidence.”
Notes:
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Midfielder Sal Zizzo made his first league start for the Timbers Sunday against D.C. United. With Zizzo in the Starting XI for Darlington Nagbe, it was the first time in five games that Portland head coach John Spencer made a change to his starting unit.
- Jorge Perlaza’s goal was his first since April 14, when he scored two against Chicago at JELD-WEN Field.
- Jeremy Hall’s assist was his first since April 2 at New England.
- Kenny Cooper was whistled for offside four times, matching his Timbers season-high.
- Troy Perkins’ home league shutout streak was snapped at 283 minutes.
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Jewsbury has been involved in (scoring or assisting) seven of the Timbers’ last nine goals.
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Per Elias Sports Bureau, D.C. United became the first Eastern Time Zone team to win in the Pacific Time Zone since the New York Red Bulls beat the LA Galaxy on Sept. 24, 2010.
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This match was D.C. United’s first league road match in exactly one month.
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In nine MLS matches this weekend, the home teams went winless, combining for an 0-5-4 record.
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Two of the four assists credited in the game were given to players who threw the ball in.
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This was the Timbers’ first match in which the road team scored first.
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In 11 Timbers matches, the team that has scored first is unbeaten.
