Feckless Timbers Scrape out a Scoreless Draw at Home

The Timbers have drawn at home 0-0 with the LA Galaxy. Both teams were shorthanded, missing several key players due to either international duty or injury. The Galaxy were dominant in the first half, with a few quality chances created. The Timbers didn’t register a shot on target in the first half and got thoroughly outplayed. The pattern continued up until the 80th minute, when both teams desperately began to chase a goal. However, it ended 0-0, with neither team particularly happy about their performance. This match has birthed a ton of talking points, however. 

This match was free on Apple TV, and it was also available on FOX. Therefore, this was the most accessible MLS match of the week for many casual viewers. For those casual viewers, I would imagine two things that stuck out: the refereeing and a poor quality of play. It is still unthinkable that MLS allows this quality of refereeing on the field. There were definitely three legitimate penalty shouts (2 for Portland, 1 for LA) and none of them got a serious VAR lookover. On the first one, Nathan Fogaca got tackled from behind in the box and the replay in the stadium seemed to show a foul. Referee Chris Penso disagreed, and instead gave the first yellow card to Fogaca later on in the match after a supposed “dive.” Later in the first half, it looked like Zac McGraw committed a handball in the box. Penso declined to look at it, and the game continued. You can make the case that it was a make-up call for Fogaca’s no-call, but both should have been penalties. A tackle late in the second half on Tega Ikoba looked like a penalty, but there was no whistle. It was clear by the end of the first half that Penso had no control over the match, seemingly issuing yellows and blowing his whistle at random. Displaying that standard of refereeing to a national audience is very bad for the league. Both Galaxy and Timbers fans were upset with the officiating, which is becoming all too common in MLS. The poor quality of play is directly related to the small rosters. The Timbers were only able to field a 6 person bench, with only 5 of those outfield players. Bigger rosters can allow for more depth, and more depth results in a better product on the field. Both teams (particularly Portland) were playing weakened XIs with USL-level benches. It isn’t that hard to increase the salary cap or roster limits, with the only supposed “negative” being owners having to spend more money on the teams that they own. Especially with the addition of Leagues Cup and the expanded playoff format.

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Focusing more on the actual match, the Timbers looked completely hopeless in attack. The problem goes much deeper than pure chance creation, as this team had massive struggles even stringing a couple passes together. 70.9% pass accuracy is horrid. Giovanni Savarese had to have an idea of what the starting XI would look like in training sessions, but it looked like these players have never played with each other before. The Average Positions map really speaks to this. 

In this picture, you see a defined back four, Diego Chara, and then a mess. That cluster of four players is Eryk Williamson, Diego Gutierrez, Marvin Loria, and Santiago Moreno. This just meant that the Timbers played this match in the Tactics-Free Zone. Players were swapping positions at random, with the front four being rather fluid and Williamson playing as a nominal 10(?). They displayed a 4-2-4 shape a lot of the time, putting a ton of pressure on Williamson and Chara to progress through the midfield. Both have struggled a lot with doing that this season, and it remains a major flaw in this team’s tactical strategy. The 4-2-4 shape also lends itself well to a press, and the Timbers seemed to press intensely around the opposing box but once the Galaxy had progressed the ball beyond their own defending third the Timbers just compressed the space. There was no true strategy to this press. It was also ineffective. Just a weird game of vibey soccer from Portland. 

If there was one true positive to take away from this forgettable match, the Timbers vastly improved their set piece defense. No sloppiness, definite clearances, and great organization on second balls. This could have been a game where one poorly-cleared corner or free kick could have decided it, and I must give them credit where credit is due. Of course, set pieces continue to be a problem, so it must continue to be improved upon. 

Performance-wise, only Zac McGraw distinguished himself among the outfield players. He is a gem and he will keep growing. Dario Zuparic continues to be passable, the most known quantity on the Timbers right now. I expect nothing but boring, solid play from him. Claudio Bravo has not fully returned to last-season’s form yet, but I will continue to believe that his form will return sooner rather than later. Pablo Bonilla got his first start of the season in place of Juan David Mosquera, and looked like a backup. Nothing new. Chara was asked to do a ton, and his motor continues to be his most valuable asset. He is still struggling with ball progression. Williamson showed his usual bits of quality, yet couldn’t coordinate the attack. He is also being asked to do a lot. Santiago Moreno has a ton of quality, yet was struggling to complete passes. Nathan Fogaca is still a hustle player, so naturally he was the Timbers’ best presser. Diego Gutierrez got his first start, and played the full 90. It was tough to go at Raheem Edwards for that time, but Edwards is a good left back. He needs more minutes in MLS NEXT PRO as a winger. Marvin Loria had a typical Marvin game, and ended up getting subbed out with an injury. He was not the only one who left with injury, as starting keeper Dave Bingham was helped off the field in second half stoppage time after a collision. It is unknown what injury he sustained, but it is expected to keep him out for next week’s match in Dallas. Jaroslaw Niezgoda came off the bench, sent a sitter right at LA keeper Jonathan Klinsmann, and then seemed afraid to shoot from an equally promising position a few minutes later. His confidence is broken and it’s sad to see. Tega Ikoba proved to be a kickstart to the Timbers’ attack, as he displayed a turn of pace in his still-limited minutes. We might have another gem on our hands. Eric Miller got his first playing time in Portland, and I was impressed with his hustle. I can already see why Nashville fans liked him. Justin Rasmussen was brought in to play more as a left midfielder/wing, but had to switch to keeper after Bingham’s injury due to all three substitution windows being used up. I would like to see some more minutes on the wing for him in the future. 

Today’s biggest story is probably one that happened off the field. Bingham got the start today, with Beaverton boy Hunter Sulte backing him up and getting on the bench. That left Aljaz Ivacic completely out of the squad, which was shocking to a lot of Timbers fans. Ryan Clarke tweeted out this Ivacic quote right before kickoff, “I’ve been ready and healthy since game one. Everything else you’re gonna hear is a lie.” This ratcheted up the threat level up to DEFCON 4. In his press conference, Savarese provided a lengthy statement in response. “He is still a very important component of our team. Things just need to be earned. They don’t need to be given.” He continued, “Nevertheless, the reason was because (Ivacic) didn’t train enough this week, he didn’t have enough practices. So if there’s a lie there, I don’t know, because that’s transparent. At the end of the day, players get to play when you are the best during the week. (Ivacic) is going to continue to help us and he is going to be a part of the team. Sometimes players make these comments out of being a little bit too emotional.” 

Now, there is a lot to unpack here. Ivacic has only made one start this year, but conceded five goals in Atlanta. I don’t believe he was the main culprit, but letting five goals past you is not good at all. He also just signed a contract extension with the club, so I have to call his behavior bizarre. The most confusing part is him not even making the bench, which leads me to believe that those missed practices definitely guided Savarese’s hand. I do find it odd that Ivacic would go to the press, but also Savarese might have been too cautious in keeping him on the bench to preserve his health. Players want to play, and it certainly is unhelpful when a key player seems unhappy. In the short term, Bingham will almost certainly be out for next week’s match. The question remains as to what Savarese will do. Playing Ivacic seems like a given from a soccer standpoint, but Savarese might opt to bench him again in Dallas. Either option makes sense in my mind, depending on how this week progresses in the training facility. I do think their relationship is repairable, but it will definitely take some time. In the bigger picture, this is an unnecessary distraction. Hopefully it is just a distraction, but I have a feeling that we will be learning more in the coming week. 

The Timbers now have 4 points in 5 matches. They spend the majority of April on the road, with their only home match occurring against their biggest rivals. The squad is just not playing at a high level, and there is still a massive injury crisis in progress. Dairon Asprilla and David Ayala look like the next players to return to match fitness, with Evander still being a massive question mark. The hope is all three will be fit for the Dallas trip, and Timbers fans should be saying their prayers to the injury gods that they are.

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