BEAVERTON, Ore. – Caleb Porter called it the Portland Timbers’ “best performance of the year.”
Their 3-0 victory Saturday over the Vancouver Whitecaps certainly had a lot of things the Timbers have been lacking this season – namely putting together a strong offensive outing with a shutdown defensive performance. But one very apparent reason for that were the performances of Portland’s two outside backs, Jorge Villafaña and Alvas Powell, two young players both coming off long first-team absences who were rewarded from their strong showing in the Timbers opening CONCACAF Champions League victory over Alpha United two weeks ago.
Both players pushed high while showing willingness – and the athletic ability – to track back on defense. It resulted in Powell’s first MLS goal but more importantly in the Timbers getting back to the high-pressure, attack-minded type of soccer that has oftentimes eluded them this season.
The Timbers out-possessed and out-shot Vancouver, while earning their third shutout of the season and first against a team other than last-place Chivas USA.
“I’m real happy that we’re able to get back to playing the way we want to play,” Porter said. “And we looked like the team that I want my team to look like. I was real proud of them.”
The 24-year-old Villafaña, who the Timbers acquired from Chivas USA in the offseason, got his ninth start at left back in place of Michael Harrington but first since July 13 after recovering from a left hamstring injury. Villafaña completed 22 of his 25 passes, made three clearances and two successful tackles.
“It was the way he wanted to play that game, but it is the way I like to play,” Villafaña said after Wednesday’s training session at the team facility. “I just did my job and tried to help the team.”
But it was Powell, the pacey 20-year-old Jamaican international, who was the most impressive.
He became the second youngest player to score an MLS goal for the Timbers, and his overlap play on the right with attackers Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri created a number of chances.
“He did great, the light bulb has gone on,” Porter said of Powell. “I’ve seen this a lot with young players, sometimes they just can’t get into a groove and can’t figure it out and all of a sudden then turn a corner.”
Powell was making his first league start since May 17 and just his fourth of the season in place of Danny O’Rourke and Jack Jewsbury, who have been Porter’s first-choice right backs. Powell returned to the Timbers from a loan with USL PRO affiliate Sacramento Republic FC, where he made three starts, to first feature for the Timbers in their CCL game.
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He said his time with Sacramento helped him stay sharp for when his next opportunity came.
“I’ve been working really hard in training and scored goals in training, so when this opportunity came, I was ready,” he said.
Powell completed 10 of his 11 passes, made six clearances and five successful tackles against Vancouver. Coincidently, he was subsequently called to the Jamaican national team for their Tuesday friendly against Canada.
“Obviously, Alvas is physically strong and we can use that to attack and defense, as well, but I think they try to play like the team wants,” Valeri said of Powell and Villafaña.
