Quotes: Portland Timbers vs. Chivas USA
Portland Timbers Quotes
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
Overall thoughts on the match:
“It’s another positive step in the right direction, earning three points. We’re on a very good path towards our ultimate goal – nothing more, nothing less. If we continue to have good work and training like we have been, it’ll show up in the game. It’s been a good third of the season and we have made a lot of progress, and we’re in good position points-wise, but it’s a very tight race in this conference. For me it was a good performance. There is still a lot more left in the tank. To me we are just scratching the surface.”
On the performance of his players:
“What we’re pleased about is that we are performing well, we’re getting good performances out of our players individually and collectively. We’re not where we want to be yet, which is what makes it scary; we could be even better.”
On maintaining possession against opponents:
“I told the guys before the game I could care less how much possession we had, I want to go to goal and get goals. If we had 10 percent possession and won 3-0 I would be happy. I’m not bothered by how it looks or by how much possession we have. I know because of the way we train that we are going to have a lot of possession, but we are not going to just be a possession team by fault. At the end of the day we’re just trying to get three points.”
On the recent play of Rodney Wallace:
“Rodney Wallace is having a breakout year. I’m not sure why he hasn’t had a breakout year up to this point, because I think he is one of the better wingers in this league. For a lot of our players right now it’s real simple, they are enjoying their football. The more you enjoy playing this game, the better you play. I told them to go out and just don’t think, be free, play.”
On the impact of midfielders Diego Chara and Will Johnson:
“Those two guys are, for me, dominant box-to-box midfielders. They have been bringing it every single game. They are in a position where they don’t always show up on the score sheet, but they are the heart of our team, they are the engine room. It was good for Will to get a goal today, but there were a lot of moments where Diego Chara slashed forward and could’ve had assists. Those two guys are putting work in and it’s really making us go.”
Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace
On the club’s recent results and chemistry:
“I think it’s just hard work and determination. We have a good group and good chemistry. The thing about this group is that we like winning and it shows on the field. The chemistry is out there. We are well connected. I think every single guy, regardless if they’re a starter or not, is giving their all so it is definitely something that we are working on.”
On his first-half goal:
“I think it came off of our pressure, something that we take pride in. It’s something we’ve been practicing, just pressuring the ball and making sure that if we lose it that we have a bunch of guys around it. We countered, I think it was a ball from Ryan [Johnson] and I took a touch and put it over the goalie’s head and it went in.”
On playing under coach Caleb Porter:
“Caleb gives you the confidence to go out there and express yourself as a player. He tells you not to hold back, but at the same time play free and that’s something that we have been doing.”
Timbers defender Futty Danso
On the chemistry of the back line
“Once the communication gets going, we keep covering up for each other and that helps the team. I think that’s why we are getting results this year.”
On playing with Donovan Ricketts in goal:
“He gives you a ton of confidence. You know there is less of chance that someone will score when you have someone like him behind you. Playing in front of Donovan is like having a fifth defender with you.”
On the team’s focus after the win:
“Right now we are going to take it game-after-game. Right now our focus is going to be on Vancouver. We have long-term goals, but you can’t set your sights farther than your next game.”
Chivas USA Quotes
Chivas USA head coach José Luis Sánchez Solá
Overall thoughts on the game:
“We knew it was going to be a tough game and my team played, but it was simply not enough.”
On the impact of the suspensions to Dan Kennedy and Carlos Alvarez:
“Great impact, especially when you have a limited squad like ours; every player matters and is needed.”
On first impression of atmosphere in Portland:
“The atmosphere is great, this exactly what the world of soccer needs. I was glad to be part of it, even though we lost, it was still fun for the crowd.”
Chivas USA midfielder Josue Soto
Overall thoughts on the match:
“It is a very difficult venue to play in with a rival that has been doing well. We are all disappointed, but we need to recuperate and move on [to the next match].”
On the clubs current winless stretch:
“It isn’t an excuse, but these last two games were at difficult places and we just need to turn the page and look ahead to our next game that is at home.”
Chivas USA defender Steve Purdy
On moving forward from back-to-back losses:
“We just need to go back in and take it one day and one practice at a time.”
On returning to Portland:
“It is always great to play in front of the Portland fans. Portland will always have a place in my heart. I love the fans and the city. I always look forward to coming back to Portland, whether is for soccer or just visiting.”
Notes:
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The capacity crowd marked the 40th consecutive sellout at JELD-WEN Field since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011.
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With the win, the Timbers extend their MLS-club unbeaten streak to nine matches, which is tied with FC Dallas for the longest in MLS this season.
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The Timbers move into second place in the Western Conference with the victory, which is the highest the club has placed in the conference through 11 matches of a season.
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The Timbers’ record of 4-1-6 (18pts) is the club’s best start to an MLS season through 11 matches.
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Portland defeated Chivas USA for the second time (2-4-0) in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs; both wins have come at JELD-WEN Field.
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The Timbers matched their largest margin of victory as an MLS side – three goals – in the win over Chivas USA, a mark first set twice during the 2011 season (3-0 win vs. LA Galaxy on Aug. 3, 2011; 3-0 win vs. New England on Sept. 16, 2011).
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The Timbers scored three goals in a match for the third time this season, and with 18 overall on the campaign the club is tied with FC Dallas for the most goals scored in the Western Conference.
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Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and the Timbers defense recorded its fourth consecutive shutout at home and extended its current home shutout streak to 390 minutes – the longest home shutout streak in the club’s MLS history.
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The Timbers are 4-2-3 all-time in day matches at JELD-WEN Field as an MLS side, including an unbeaten 3-0-3 record since the start of the 2012 campaign.
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With second-half goals from Diego Valeri and Will Johnson, the Timbers lead MLS with 14 goals scored in the second half.
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Valeri recorded one goal and two assists against Chivas USA, matching the Timbers MLS record for points in a single game (4). He is tied for the league lead in assists with four.
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Valeri logged two assists in a match for the second time this season, also achieving the feat in the 3-2 road win over Sporting KC on April 27. His pair of assists against Chivas USA marked the fifth time in Timbers MLS history in which a player has recorded multiple assists in a single game.
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With three shots on goal, Valeri matched Portland’s MLS mark for shots on goal in a single match; it’s the third time this season in which he has recorded the feat (March 3 vs. New York; April 21 at San Jose).
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Portland set a new MLS-club record with 12 corner kicks against Chivas USA.
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Valeri took 11 corner kicks, setting a new record for individual corner kicks attempted in a single match by a Timbers MLS player. Jack Jewsbury held the previous mark at nine (achieved twice during the 2011 campaign).
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Rodney Wallace and Darlington Nagbe become the third and fourth players, respectively, to record points in back-to-back matches this season. Wallace assisted on Nagbe’s goal in the 1-1 draw at FC Dallas on May 8.
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Wallace scored his third goal of the season in the first half, matching a career-high in goals first set during his rookie season in 2009 with D.C. United.
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Midfielder Will Johnson scored his fourth goal of the season, which set a new career-high for goals in a season. He is tied with forward Ryan Johnson for the club lead in goal-scoring.
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Chivas USA’s two shots in the first half were the fewest shots by an opponent in a half this season.
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With 19 shots against Chivas USA, the Timbers have recorded 10 or more shots in 37 consecutive home matches at JELD-WEN Field.
- Chivas USA goalkeeper Patrick McLain made his first MLS start Sunday at JELD-WEN Field. McLain was a member of the Timbers U-23s inaugural team in 2009.
