BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have used their impressive roster depth to great effect in a hot stretch that has rescued them from the bottom of the Western Conference. Now, they're just one point out of first.
But in their last match, forget that part about the "hot stretch."
Portland faced the Philadelphia Union without five starters and two other regulars, thanks to a combination of to injury, international duty and rest. That meant a bit too much for even the deep Timbers to overcome, and a resulting 3-0 road loss.
“I think we hit somewhat of a wall with some players in the last game,” head coach Caleb Porter said after Wednesday’s training session at the team facility. “We hung in there for 68 minutes, we were in position to win the game, that’s pleasing. But you could see after the first goal we kind of hit a wall. Not making excuses, but that’s a reality.”
Two of the players thrust into the lineup – Jeanderson at left back and Taylor Peay at right back – were making their first regular season starts in a Timbers shirt.
“I thought they did okay; obviously they got 90 minutes,” Porter said. “Like every player who gets thrown in for the first time, there’s going to be kinks to work. There’s going to be good with the bad and there are going to be positives and a few things that need to be corrected.”
Peay replaced Jamaican international Alvas Powell, who’s away on Gold Cup duty for his country. The former was selected 26th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Washington, and spent most of his rookie campaign on loan with USL side Orange County Blues FC. This year, Peay has started nine games for Portland’s new USL affiliate, Timbers 2.
Jeanderson, a 23-year-old Brazilian, was acquired in the offseason and has started six games for Timbers 2. For the regular squad game, he replaced Jorge Villafaña, who was getting a scheduled rest after starting the first 19 games of the season.
Porter said Villafana will be back in the XI for Portland’s next game, Saturday at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE in the US, TSN and RDS2 in Canada). He'll also presumably be back for the remainder of the season. Powell, meanwhile, will miss at least one more match as Jamaica face Haiti on Saturday in a quarterfinals matchup of the Gold Cup.
“Obviously we didn’t win the game, but it’s not just on them,” Porter said of Peay and Jeanderson. “We’re a team, we win and lose as a team. And just like when we win, it’s not just on a few guys. But there’s a lot to look at in the game for those two guys.”
Portland also faced a slew of injuries throughout its roster: goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey (quad strain), winger Darlington Nagbe (shoulder sprain), midfielder Diego Chara (ankle sprain), striker Maximiliano Urruti (quad strain) and center back Norberto Paparatto (calf).
One positive aspect of having so many players out last weekend is they will be rested for Saturday’s crucial rivalry and conference matchup against West-leading Vancouver.
“It’s good if we get those guys back,” Porter said.
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
