- Friday night, the Portland Timbers continued to choke on what's left of their post-season ambitions. The only thing that would have made their 1-0 groaner of a loss to the Minnesota Thunder worse was the rest of the relevant opposition running away with timely wins. But a quick check at the scoreboard reveals that the Atlanta Silverbacks lost not once (ouch!), but twice (ouch!) over the weekend; the Virginia Beach Mariners managed a tie with league-leading L'Impact de Montreal, while the Puerto Rico Islanders stumbled 3-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. In other words, in spite of their worst efforts, the Timbers ended the weekend about where they started - the only exception being they've got one fewer game in which to get it right.
And judging by what I saw on the field Friday, the Timbers are a hell of a long way from right. Apart from creating one or two chances, the Timbers put on a clinic in how not to score; whether it's having the 'keeper hold the ball and overlook the obvious, wide-open option when he finally does get rid of it, or rushing the ball down the flank, only to slow it down and...switch...the...ball...very...very...very...slowly just on top of the opposition's defensive third, the Timbers graphically illustrated a lack of urgency. I can't even say anyone really stood out.
The sad reality is, this Timbers team can't make the playoffs unless they start winning. Signs, in general, suggest this ain't gonna happen, at least not this year. And, by the way, it looks like Coach Chris Agnello just made it official:
"We’ve got to get these guys to push themselves through the rest of the season and learn valuable "dance lessons" so we can build on that. We’re still a team in transition right now."
Say no more.
- While the Timbers floundered, the cream of MLS - well, the cream with a little skimmed off (see: Twellman, Taylor; Dempsey, Clint; Joseph, Shalrie; Razov, Ante) - showed some unknown percentage of the world's population that Americans can play this game. For his part, Dwayne "DeRo" DeRosario showed that Canadians can be pretty damn handy as well. It was MVP DeRo who scored the lone goal in the MLS All-Stars 1-0 victory of FC Chelsea. By the way, that lone goal is worth the gander (Sights & Sounds, as always).
I read a few bloggers' reviews last night and all maintained a sober perspective of the result (LINK, LINK and, for the most original angle, LINK)- though there's a touch of giddiness just below the surface in each of them. It's entirely true that even the best players in the world need time to get up to speed, but it's also fair to say that the MLS All-Stars simply played a a good game and created several great openings. Again, DeRosario played especially smart and creative stuff, from well-weighted chips to players lurking on the wings, or sneaky-shit backheels that nearly snuck through. For all he did, however, nearly everyone who took the field for MLS played intelligent, effective soccer. And that's just good stuff.
Some closing quick notes:
- I don't think DeRosario will stay in MLS much longer. His game has reached a point where the rich fellers may come a-courtin'.
- Someone else said it, but it's worth repeating: Chris Albright showed again that, while he came into the league as a forward, he's defender material. That miss was just friggin' painful. Overall, though, the man has done well since finding his groove.
- Facundo Erpen's near-own-goal, the one when he nutmegged (was it?) Joe Cannon? Just magical. Eddie Robinson's clearance of the same was also something special.
- It's good to see Alecko Eskandarian back out there. He's a good player and a ballsy one.
- Another great moment: Jimmy Conrad's total unwillingness to feel awe at the occasion as demonstrated by his early, um, discussion with Didier Drogba on their separate theories on diving. Grant Wahl's write-up has more on Conrad's battle with Drogba.
- The strangest question - and I didn't hear the answer, 'cause my kid barked over it - came when someone asked Eric Wynalda whether he thought the win helped Peter Nowak's chances of securing the U.S. national team post. I hope Waldo just replied, "Well, it can't hurt them" and left it there.
- Was it just me or did Joe Cannon look the most thrilled of anyone with the win?
Anyway, it was a good day for the league.
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