It has been an interesting start to the 2013 MLS campaign for the Timbers and first-year coach Caleb Porter, with the Portland club fighting their way to three comeback draws to go along with a loss. Although the Timbers have yet to produce a win, they have proven themselves to be a resilient and tenacious group, one that is more than up to the task of improving on last year’s disappointing season.
The Colorado Rapids welcomed the Timbers to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 30 for a Western Conference matchup. Colorado put the pressure on Portland right away and scored two unanswered goals, but in keeping with the Timbers’ new style of play this season, they scrambled back on the strength of MLS Player of the Week Will Johnson’s two second-half goals to avoid the loss. The Timbers are now 0-1-3 in 2013 and currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference.
The Rapids came out firing, getting two shots on goal in the first three minutes. In the 17th minute, Colorado midfielder Dillon Powers sent a deep shot that angled past diving Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. The remainder of the first half was a battle of defense, as attack after attack was broken up and cleared out by opposing defenders. Both teams had opportunities but were unable to connect, leading to a 1-0 score at the intermission.
At the start of the second half, Colorado quickly drove down the field into Timbers territory, and the Rapids’ Henry Thomas pulled off a near-perfect move at the top of the box, losing two Portland defenders and placing himself one-on-one with Ricketts. Ricketts charged Thomas and successfully stopped his advance, but a trailing Timbers defender was called for a foul in the process, resulting in a penalty kick that Thomas netted for a 2-0 Colorado lead.
After nearly 55 minutes, Johnson found himself with space as the ball was lobbed across the middle, and the Toronto native executed a header to bring the Timbers within one and lend some much-needed energy to the team. Johnson was at the center of the action again 15 minutes later, drawing a foul after contact with a Colorado defender for a penalty kick opportunity of his own. Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin picked up on the direction of the kick, but Johnson managed to squeeze it past him to even the score. Neither club was able to cut through the defense in the last 20 minutes, and the Timbers left Commerce City with a draw.
Portland now moves on to a showdown with the Houston Dynamo at Jeld-Wen Field on April 6, where they’ll try to come up with their first victory in 2013.