TIMBERS FALL IN PROVIDENCE PARK OPENER

The Portland Timbers hosted the Los Angeles FC for their long-delayed MLS (Major League Soccer) home opener on Saturday night, June 1, in front of 25,218. The home team suffered a 3-2 loss to LAFC, but the fans still brought an electrifying atmosphere for the whole 90-plus minutes of the game. 

The Timbers are currently 11th in the Western Conference with the record of 4-7-2. But that’s after playing their first 12 games on the road, waiting for the grand reopening of Providence Park. The 93-year old stadium had been undergoing an expansion since 2017 and now has 4,000 new seats in a three-level sideline structure for fans.

In their first game coming back home, Timbers were up against the No. 1 team in the conference, with only one lost this season.

The visitors, along with their fans, came out with a lot of energy in the first half. LAFC was aggressive and outplayed the Timbers defense, leading 2-0 after the first 45 minutes of the game. Portland’s mistakes on defense led to a couple of easy goals. LAFC forward Carlos Vela took advantage of a lazy pass in the sixth minute from Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, that produced the opener. In the 34th minute, Diego Rossi scored the second goal of the game when he easily outran Timbers defender Jorge Moreira, who has been struggling on defense this season.

But, the home team bounced back in the second half. The Timbers were more aggressive on offense and kept LAFC’s defense on its toe the whole second half. Midfielder Cristhian Paredes scored a goal from a rebound in the 46th minute. This first goal for the home team had the stadium crowd on its feet. Still, LAFC took advantage of a letdown in defense by the Timbers, as Latif Blessing scored on a volley in the 54th minute, making it 3-1, Los Angeles.

However, Timbers forward Brian Fernandez contributed in the comeback effort with an impressive bicycle kick goal in the 85th minute. That was as close as Portland would get, though.

Fernandez has now recorded four goals in three games since joining the Timbers this season. With veterans Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco teaming with Fernandez up front, the Timbers’ offense seems dangerous for any team, when they get in the flow of the game. When these players build more chemistry, it will be a hell of a ride for fans to see what they can do for this franchise in the future.

After going at it hard all night, there were altercations between the two teams before the end of the regulation, while some questionable calls that went LAFC’s way affected the Timbers’ momentum late in the game. Fernandez and LAFC’s Adama Diomande were each handed yellow cards, that would be later reviewed by the league for their involvement. With the teams having some heated match-ups in the past, the shoving and poking late in the game Saturday was no surprise.

After a disappointing loss in a home opener for the first time in their MLS history, the Timbers are looking at a three-week break before hosting the Houston Dynamo on June 22. (They do face the rival Seattle Sounders on June 12, in Seattle, in a non-MLS U.S. Open Cup match).