Take Aways from the Timbers’s loss Against the Philadelphia Union

The Portland Timbers succumbed to a Philadelphia Union severely affected by the international call up, by 3-1 on the evening of March 23, 2024, in front of their fans at Providence Park. It is a result that does not really tell the whole story of the match. Upon further analysis, the story is about a gritty and tested squad, facing a new project on its infancy, the Phil Neville era 2024 Portland Timbers.

A tough contender even with the absences, and Portland’s biggest test yet in this new era. The 3-1 loss, made the Timbers look very nimble in defense, and unable to score the abundant goal opportunities. It was a bad look, but we are still way too early to draw absolute judgements, not all was as grey and gloomy as the result seems to show.

The Timbers were grossly exposed in defense, by a very competitive team, even with the absences, everybody seemed to know its role, and proved the importance of the depth of a squad. Let’s remember that this Union is led  by head coach Jim Curtin, has consistently finished in the top four for the last few seasons.

Portland saw the surprise debut of their new designated player, Jonathan Rodríguez, after getting his paperwork  approved, he was in the starting 11, after barely 2 training sessions. He played as the top of the spear, lone striker role, accompanied by Anthony and Santiago Moreno alternating left and right wings, with Evander acting as the play maker behind the trident.

Diego Chará and Eryk Williamson played the double pivot holding midfield, while Juan Mosquera from the right was running tirelessly his defensive wing role, and Eric Miller, was more conservatively covering Anthony’s runs on the attack. The squad was completed by center defenders Zac McGraw, and Dario Zuparic.

Portland showed some great offensive shape, at times playing some great football. Their inability to finish hampered a first half that was dominated by the home side. Portland’s good offensive manners had a lot had to do with the debutant Jonathan Rodríguez, his movements with and out of the ball, put Philadelphia’s defense in panic. Portland, was very unlucky not to go in the advantage in the first half. Instead, the break found them trailing 0-1 with a goal by the Union’s number 9, Julián Carranza in minute 28.

Evander, Anthony, and Mosquera found their chances navigating a crowded center with Philadelphia defending with 10 men behind the ball. The fact they got that far, was remarkable. Philadelphia’s positioning in defense looked remarkable, blocking, harassment, and teaming up on the attackers, depriving the offense of that extra half a second to get your target right.

Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville

“We play well, but we want to win games of football, we are in a cut throat business, we are in a winning business, and to win you’ve got to do the other side better than what we did tonight”

Philadelphia’s style of defending frustrated creative players like Santiago Moreno and especially Evander. Frustrated, but didn’t shut them down. It was a case where the edge of success and failure was the blurriest, and while Philly was able to burden the Timbers’ offense enough to keep them from scoring, their quality and taste for good football did expose them, but was unable to make it count.

Rodríguez’s experience and professionalism was remarkable, his work with and off the ball, diagonal runs from the center to outside, left or right of the Philadelphia’s box, allowed many more options in the attack, especially Anthony, coming in the opposite direction, from left to inside the box, and getting at least two great scoring chances. But against the run of the play, and to the Union’s defensive prowess and opportunistic know how, Portland found itself trailing 3-0 at home with 20 minutes left in the match.

Changes to the squad offered even a more interesting look at the 2024 Timbers’ depth of squad, and while losing is never a good thing, the reading isn’t as negative as the result shows. Neville, brought all the offensive power the team has, Mosquera, a defensive wing, gave the space to Darion Asprilla, and offensive winger. Chará left the field on a yellow for David Ayala, who gave the team a lot more passing depth, and was one of Phil’s special mention for his performance. Cristian Paredes, came in for Williamson, and attempted his long range shots. Felipe Mora, took the stage, playing alongside Jonathan Rodríguez, and the Timbers were all in the attack.

Philadelphia Union did have a clinical finisher of their own, Argentine attacking mid Julian Carranza, with goals in the 28th minute, and the 67th minute, with 19-year old forward Quinn Sullivan, netting their second in 58th minute. Without much luster, Philadelphia managed to control the match on its own half almost in its entirety.

The offensive effort of the Timbers finally payed dividend in minute 80, when the debutant, Jonathan Rodríguez, connected a cross from Santiago Moreno by winning aerial challenge over Cameroonian defender from the Philadelphia Union, Olivier Mbaizo. A class header that brought hope for the minutes to come, but wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

Rodriguez movements of the ball were exquisite, and showed some of the magic that the Evander, Moreno, Anthony and again Rodríguez, might have in store for us this season. However, Neville commented at the press conference, If you cannot do the basics in defense, still if you play good football, you aren’t winning. And that was the case tonight.

“This is as disappointed as I have been since I came to the club”, and while Neville had great pride for the great bits of playing that his pupils showed, the basics he was alluding to was defense. Philadelphia, has a simpler formula to the game, but it is a tested and battle hardened squad and that knows how to be effective, that was what made the difference the night of the match.

Phill Neville elaborated more on the defeat, “we play well, but we want to win games of football, we are in a cut throat business, we are in a winning business, and to win you’ve got to do the other side better than what we did tonight”. That other side, was withstanding the onslaught, defending in block and taking your chances forward. And while Portland did look like the better football team, that other side of the game, was Philadelphia’s top strength.

Phill Neville’s conclusion of the match was “If you don’t take your chances and if you don’t do the real basic job of defending set play or straight ball behind, you are going to have real problems winning games of football.“ Following in that same post match press conference, “tonight it was about defense and doing the dirty work”, and Philadelphia Union was better at that.