The Portland Timbers, searching out the path to the USL Division 1 post-season, tried something new last night: winning. Perhaps someone picked up the rules of competition in the American second division, where they would have discovered that the playoffs are not, in fact, by invitation. No, it seems the six teams that earn more points than the other six teams in the league head to the playoffs.
Equipped with this seemingly new information, the Timbers are now poised for a push to the post-season. The question is whether it’s too late.
Sarcasm aside, it was nice to see the Timbers (finally) pick up a W. Had they managed one or two earlier this season, last night’s 1-0 win against the Virginia Beach Mariners could have meant so much more. But, with only four games remaining - and, therefore, a maximum 12 points available - the Timbers remain five points behind now-sixth-place Virginia; it doesn’t help, of course, that Virginia retained their three games in hand, a reality that poses the very real threat of building on that five point lead. That the fourth and fifth place teams - the Puerto Rico Islanders and the Rochester Raging Rhinos - have four and five games in hand, respectively, only shrinks the margin of error (though Rochester’s 10 point lead renders the chances of overtaking them near-completely mathematical).
Naturally, anything is possible. Plausible? Well, that’s something else again.
That’s not to say there’s no happy news. Timber Jim finally got to saw that damn log. He reportedly handed the resulting slab to Luke “Krispy” Kreamalmeyer - who remains a consistent bright spot in a dim season - to thank him for the privilege. The simple relief of just winning must have made for one of the team’s happiest nights since late June and I certainly wouldn’t begrudge these guys a happy moment given the few causes to celebrate thus far.
So...why not make more happy memories next Friday, when Puerto Rico comes calling? I’ll do my bit by staying away from the stadium. If the team finds belittling posts helpful, I’ll write some profanity-laced screed against the team’s competence and commitment; Coach Chris Agnello could then pin it on the locker room wall as something the players can glare at when they need a little rage to fire flagging motivation.
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