Game Preview: The Last Match

1 October 2010 800 views One Comment

The Portland Timbers will play their final match of the regular season this Saturday when they meet Northwest rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium. It will also be the last regular season game the Timbers play in the Division-2 pro league before moving up to the MLS in 2011 - an important footnote in the franchise’s history. In some ways, it’s hard to believe that the year is so close to reaching its conclusion. Although the team has experienced its share of speed bumps along the way, the building excitement for next season has inevitably made people look to the future, sweeping the past and the present forward in its anticipatory wake. It’s a little like trying to avoid Senioritis during your last month of high school knowing that you have a bigger, more exciting college experience awaiting you in the fall.

“I’m not sure people understand how difficult it is when the mentality is all about MLS to keep all the players focused on the here and now.” Says Coach Gavin Wilkinson

The best prescription for Senioritis is to buckle down, focus on the work at hand, and finish the year strong. The Timbers (13-7-9, 48pts) have done just that. After some rocky stretches early in the summer, which saw the team go on an eight match winless streak, Portland has put together their best stretch of soccer in the last couple months and are unbeaten in their last nine games. During the streak, the Timbers have found success using the 4-3-3 formation, outscored opponents 13-4 and have been equally impressive defensively, recording 6 shutouts in 9 matches. Overall, the team has looked more cohesive and efficient out on the field, and that combined with the players unwavering determination will make the Timbers one of the hottest teams entering into the postseason.

“Other teams are looking out for us now.” says Coach Wilkinson.

“When (the team) starts to get more comfortable with each other, that’s when things start to get easier not only for yourself, but for everyone around you.” Says forward Bright Dike. The rookie forward scored 2 goals last Saturday against Baltimore and is currently tied for 4th in the league with 9 goals on the season.

During practice on Thursday morning, the team seemed confident and loose. After a spirited and energetic training session, the players could be seen joking around with each and smiling on the sidelines, excited about the approaching playoffs. However, the players understand the importance of ending the season on the positive, are fully aware that winning a championship in their final Division-2 season would be the ultimate prize.

“It’s one thing to get into the playoffs which was our first goal,” says Coach Wilkinson, “And now our next goal is to get through the first round and progress from there.”

“It’s been a great season,” reminisced Dike. “Hopefully, we can end it that way and then more importantly have a great postseason as well.”

Playoffs, Positioning, and Pore
The final weekend of league play will have important ramifications in the standings, as postseason match-ups are far from set in stone. Although, the Timbers are currently in 4th place overall in the points table, they could potentially move into 2nd, but would have to score outscore Vancouver by 2 goals on Saturday and hope for an Austin loss to St. Louis on that same day.

If Portland finishes the season in 4th place, which is the most likely scenario, then their 1st round opponent will either be Carolina or Vancouver.And unless, the Timbers lose on Saturday, they’ll probably be matched up against Vancouver, as Carolina owns the tie-breaker advantage with more total goals for the season. Carolina hosts 1st place Austin Friday afternoon.

How will this effect playing time and the rotation as the team tries to find a balance between staying fresh and keeping up their momentum? With the team’s first playoff game potentially coming as early as Wednesday, some strategy and gamesmanship could come into play.

“We don’t want to jeopardize the health of the players if we don’t need to,” noted Coach Wilkinson. “If we know for a fact that we’re going to be playing Vancouver in the 1st round of the playoffs, why should we give them an early look at what we’re doing?”

Deciding which players to take on the road trip won’t be an easy task for Coach Wilkinson, a problem he’s more or less faced all year. Will the Timbers end up playing their more regular and recent rotation? Or will younger talent get another opportunity to shine?

“We’re still up in the air as far as what were going to do, the system we’re going to (use), and the players that are going to play.” admitted Coach Wilkinson. “”We’re going back and forth, I’ll be honest.”

“For us as players we just go out and play,” offered defender Stephen Keel from his perspective as a player. “Who’s on the field is up to the coaches and if you’re playing, then your only job is to make sure the team gets three points.”

With the quality depth on this roster, including new talent added even relatively recently, finding enough playing time to please everybody seems like an impossible mission. The dedication and professionalism of the team has certainly been put to the test, but the players have responded, fighting for each other and rallying around the idea that the team’s success is the most important thing overall, and individual accomplishments aren’t as meaningful if they’re not backed by wins.

“It’s been stressed every day since I’ve been here with Gavin and staff,” says Keel. “It’s about winning regardless of who we’re playing, when that whistle blows our only goal is to get three points.”

“These players have been extremely professional all year.” says Coach Wilkinson with pride.

Midfielder and Timber’s leading scorer Ryan Pore has 15 goals and 34 points on the season, and will be chasing the league’s Goal title and Points title, as he leads Austin’s Eddie Johnson by 1-point in each category. Pore’s quest for the Golden Boot is an example of the Timber’s loyalty to each other and their focus on the team.

“I’d be lying if i said that (the scoring title) didn’t cross my mind.” says Pore, but is quick to add, “I don’t want it to distract in anyway from what where doing as a team, even though it would be a nice personal goal.”

Defense First, Whitecaps, and a Little Leadership
Recent history favor the Timbers. Portland clinched the Cascadia Cup for the 2nd straight year and has a record of 2-0-1 against Vancouver this season. The Whitecaps (10-5-14, 44pts) can’t be overlooked. Although, they’re coming off back-to-back losses, the Whitecaps defense has been stingy all year, only allowing a league-low 20 goals. Portland may have won 2-1 in Vancouver earlier this July, but it was their first win at Swangard stadium since 2004 where the team has a record of 2-14-2 overall.

“You get a taste of what you’re going to see next year.” Says Dike. “You know that their a quality team and you measure yourself against quality.”

Vancouver will be an inspired group, not only fighting to win their conference, but surely wanting to get a final regular season home win in front of their fans before they move up to the MLS with the Timbers next year.

“We have to focus on us and what we’re doing though,” reminds Keel. “When we start worrying about what others are doing that’s when we can run into trouble.”

When times got tough this year, Portland was able to lean on its determination and defensive will. The Timbers have only given up 21 goals all season and keeper Steve Cronin has been a reliable anchor for the backline with a league leading 12 shutouts.

“It starts with Cronin, then all the way through the backline up to the midfield and the forwards,” says Keel. “As long as we’re communicating and defending as a unit we’ll be okay.”

Many of the team’s early season losses were partially a result of late-game breakdowns or a single, costly misstep, but in the last few months the defense has done a good job of staying motivated and disciplined. The Timber’s ability to hold their opponent scoreless always keeps the team in a position to strike, an important advantage. Kalif Alhasan’s fantastic late-game goal at Puerto Rico is a recent example of this.

“If we continue to defend well and keep a clean sheet then good things will happen,” says Keel. “Especially when you have guys like Ryan Pore and Bright Dike knocking balls in.”

Leadership will be important. Who is the leader of this soccer team as they head into the playoffs? Coach Wilkinson, sure, but what about on the field? Ian Joy? Ryan Pore? Bright Dike? It seems that leadership on the Timbers doesn’t come from one specific individual, but is rather a team effort. Steve Cronin, Ian Joy, Ryan Pore, Bright Dike, Ross Smith, Stephen Keel, Scot Thompson all provide leadership. Different players leading in unique and positive ways, some vocally, some leading by example, everyone playing unselfishly for one another. The whole greater than the sum of its parts.

“The (season) has gone by so fast.” says Dike thoughtfully. “I’m just thankful for all the great people I’ve been fortunate to be around and learn from.”

Watch the match live on portlandtimbers.com/live