http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Toronto-FC-c40744 vanquish Portland Timbers: The Red’s nightmare start to MLS
Disappointment continues to pour down on Portland Timbers in their inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The Timbers were on the road for the second consecutive week. The result remained unchanged; a second consecutive defeat. The first damage came
against reigning champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Colorado-Rapids-c38849, on March 19 at d**k’s Sporting Goods Park. This week was no exception for the new MLS franchise; Toronto FC beat Timbers 2—0 at BMO Stadium.
Even though the visitors kept the ball to themselves for better part of the 90-minute stretch, they could not manage to capitalize on the chances they created. Dutch import, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Martina-c18069, became a nightmare for the guests as he opened his MLS goal tally
with a brace. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stefan-Frei-c33991, Toronto FC goalkeeper, was hardly tested by the Timbers frontline as the Swiss-born managed to keep yet another clean sheet. Toronto FC had a few chances in the run of play, but the Dutchman ran havoc every time he had the ball at
his feet. Where the Portland attack was disappointing, the defence fared little better, gifting a plethora of chances to the hosts.
Much to John Spencer’s dismay, Adin Brown was helped out of the field after he received an injury in the first minute of second half. Their miseries were compounded when Martina scored his second goal in the 70th minute. Frei was seen in action
after a long time as he fed Martina with a 60-yard pass. Timbers, on the other hand, were awarded a number of free-kicks in the run of play, however, the team could not realise Spencer’s dream of bagging the first ever MLS game.
On a slightly positive note, Kenny Cooper was seen in the thick of action as he was a thorn in the TFC backline. The Reds defence, to their credit, stood firm and dealt admirably with Cooper’s movement. For all his efforts, the player was unable to test
the opposing goalkeeper.
Coming on the back of an impressive preseason this year, Timbers disappointed everyone including their manager. The team boasted a streak of undefeated scrimmages in the preseason against the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Montreal-Impact-c39946 and US Open Cup winners, Seattle Sounders
FC.
As the Reds are enjoying their maiden MLS season, it might be too early to expect silverware from a novice outfit. One might argue that the team had enjoyed an undefeated preseason, but the scenario is completely different now; meeting a team in the regular
season calls for extraordinary measures. By the looks of it, Portland Timbers have failed to comprehend the idea. The aura in the regular season games is in stark contrast to offseason face-offs, and the spectator-presence adds an entirely new dimension to
the field.
The team is yet to play any fixtures at home and their performances are wildly expected to improve while playing at Jeld-Wen Field. However, before going back to their home town, the team still has a scrimmage left against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/New-England-Revolution-c40026 in Boston,
Massachusetts. Spencer will have to take drastic steps to cope with the MLS pressure, and go home on the back of a win.
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