BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Portland Timbers, sans Diego Valeri and Will Johnson, have struggled going forward – perhaps to little surprise considering the nature of the pair's offensive production for the team over the past two seasons.
The Timbers’ paltry haul of seven goals in 10 games, however, has overshadowed their stellar defensive play. They’ve allowed eight goals in nine games so far this season, and have recorded four clean sheets following Saturday’s scoreless draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Last season, the Timbers didn’t notch their fourth clean sheet until Sept. 20.
“I thought our discipline in the back was outstanding,” head coach Caleb Porter said his team’s defensive performance that limited the Whitecaps to just seven shots, two on target. “We didn’t give them, over 90 minutes, very many looks on goal, especially in the transition I thought we were balanced and really disciplined. I’m really pleased on that side of things.”
And just like Porter has pointed to the chances his team is creating in the attack as reason Portland’s offensive woes will turn around, he also says limiting chances is the key indicator that their early defensive prowess is no fluke.
Portland just aren’t allowing many looks on goal, and their goals-against average of 0.89 per game is tied for fourth in the league.
“We’re not giving up a lot of chances, not giving the other team many looks, so that’s a real positive,” defensive midfielder Jack Jewsbury said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting things going on the other end. The reality is over the course of the season there are times when the defense needs to be better and times when the offense needs to be better. And right now we’re looking to find more opportunities and more goals, and hopefully we can continue to keep the clean sheets as well.”
Not coincidentally, the Timbers’ transformation into a defensive squad – an area in which they infamously struggled for the first half of last season – has corresponded with the midsummer arrival last year of Designated Player center back Liam Ridgewell. Since his signing, he’s started 24 straight games and helped Portland notch 10 clean sheets.
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Considering the arrival of center back Nat Borchers to the mix at the start of this season, is there even more room for improvement?
“I think we’re still a work in progress,” Borchers said. “I think we definitely have played some good games defensively, and I think eliminating another team’s chances on goal is the best indicator of how well you’re playing defensively.”
Now, if Portland can just get the offense going…
“There’s always situations when you struggle either offensively or defensively, and it just means as a group you need to be better on both sides of the ball,” Borchers added. “There’s a way we can chip in offensively as well, as backs, so it’s obviously a group thing.”
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
