COMMERCE CITY, Colo.—Below the red line following last weekend’s results, the Portland Timbers were in need of a win entering Saturday night’s contest at Colorado. But the Colorado Rapids had other plans, earning a 1-0 victory by virtue of a 63rd minute strike from Sebastian Le Toux which made tougher the Timbers' road to the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.
It was a difficult result to swallow in what was considered a must-win game for Portland to control its own playoff destiny.
“I thought we played well enough to get three points,” said Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. “It’s disappointing.”
Reinforced with the presence of Designated Players Liam Ridgewell and Diego Valeri, the Timbers looked the more dangerous side through the first 45 minutes, holding 52 percent of the possession as well as producing two shots on target to Colorado’s one.
“The mentality was there to start the game; the organization was there,” Porter said. “It didn’t feel like Colorado created much at all.”
Portland’s best chance to take an early lead came in the 36th minute (see above) when Valeri’s low effort slid past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard, but the shot hit the far post, keeping the game level and scoreless.
“I thought [Valeri] was unlucky,” Porter said. “Tim Howard makes a great save on [the first] shot, you hit the post on another. Again, it’s the way the season has gone. You’ve got to make your own luck, but we haven’t gotten any breaks.”
A bright start for Portland went for naught in the second half, as Colorado turned the tide with Le Toux’s goal, with Rapids midfielder Marlon Hairston creating the opportunity with his speedy run and nifty dribbling down the right flank of the Timbers’ defense.
“The goal they scored was a mistake on our part,” Porter said. “We allowed Marlon Hairston to get in behind and we’ve got to be able to stop him there. Up until that point, they didn’t have anything. That’s what makes this result tough to swallow. We thought it was there for the taking.”
After taking the lead, the Rapids' defense continued to remain organized, holding onto the lead and the result for the remaining 27 minutes and four minutes of extra time. It’s a formula that has worked well for the Rapids in 2016, as they continue to pursue a top seed in the West and a chance at the Supporters' Shield.
“I just think [Colorado] are a team that grinds,” Porter said. “We got some chances, so it wasn’t like we couldn’t create. But it helps to have Tim Howard in goal because I think it gives them a confidence, and when there is a save to be made, he makes it.”
Saturday’s result was indeed disappointing for the Timbers, but there’s still hope for the 2015 MLS Cup Champions to defend their title, although it will now require some outside help.
“The silver lining is that [Sporting Kansas City] lost, so that gives us still some hope,” Porter said. “So we’re going to go into the next game, obviously we play at home and turn around and play Colorado again. If we win that game, KC plays on the road against RSL. We’ll see how things shake out.”
