Timbers unbeatable at home

The Portland Timbers earned their second-successive shutout at home in Major League Soccer when they defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0 at Jeld-Wen field on Friday.

Timbers defender Mamadou Danso scored the game-winning header in the 72nd minute off a set piece and Portland was able to hold on to their lead until the final whistle blew. The Timbers move up to the 5th spot in the Western Conference, only three points behind leaders LA Galaxy who have two games in hand.

 ”It’s easy to switch off and let your guard down and get punished,” Timbers head coach John Spencer said in a statement released by the club. “But we stuck to the task and we realized what a good team we’re becoming.”

 The Timbers’ home form has been sensational this season, as the team is unbeaten in four MLS matches at Jed-Weld field. Portland has averaged sellouts of 18,627 throughout all home games.

“They [Timbers Army] lift everybody up and they’ve been great for us at home,” Danso said. “We’ve just got to go away and just feel like they’re behind us and do the job away from home as well.”

 On Friday, Portland was a constant threat to score, including an excellent chance from a set piece just before halftime. Defender Eric Brunner headed a Jack Jewsbury free kick, but could not keep his shot down and the ball sailed over the crossbar.

 ”We were getting such great service from Jewsbury. I said to [Danso] and [Brunner] at halftime, ‘You’re going to get another chance, you’ve got to hit the target with it, just make the goalkeeper make a save’,” Spencer said. “Luckily enough, we got one and [Danso] put it in the back of the net. I thought it was a tremendous header.”??

 The game winner came in the 72 minute, as Jewsbury curled the ball in from a free kick and Danso rose above his marker to head the ball past the Philadelphia goalkeeper.

“It was a good goal. [Jewsbury] hit a good cross and I happened to get on the end of it,” Danso said. “In previous games I’ve been close. The last two weeks, the coaches have been working with me and I’ve just been trying to put the ball on target.”

 Timbers were by far the better team in the game. With Philadelphia playing all 11 players behind the ball, it was a question of when the Timbers would break though. The Timbers had twice as many attempts on goal (16 as opposed to Philadelphia’s eight) and also twice as many corner kick opportunities. The Timbers defense also managed to keep a clean sheet for their second successive game.

 Goalkeeper Troy Perkins added, “It’s three points and that’s all we can really say. Now we have to go on the road and do the same thing next weekend and these two wins at home are really going to help carry that momentum for us.”

The Timbers next face Northwest rivals the Seattle Sounders on the road at the Quest Field this Saturday. ?