PORTLAND, OR - The Timbers have come back from the World Cup as a team transformed - it seems the shedding of former manager Phil Neville back in May was a load off their shoulders. Interim manager Jack Cassidy, who is bound for a brilliant career, did a wonderful job steering the Timbers through the transition to a new boss Marti Cifuentes.

Cifuentes had the Timbers lined up in a 4-3-3, matching Mikey Varas’ formation, and it seemed the two sides were even steven for the first half hour of the game. Kristoffer Velde struck first, with gem of a long range shot that San Diego’s CJ Dos Santos could do nothing about. Going down by a goal seemed to wake San Diego up and they piled on the possession numbers, by the end of the half, had brought that up to 70%. They were turning the screw, with their quick passes and precise interplay, which ultimately unlocked the Timbers defense and allowed Gabriel Pirani to equalize.

Velde didn’t sulk long and within moments of the restart, broke into the visitors defensive third and put a shot too high. It didn’t feel like it, but San Diego had outshot the home side 10 to 5 and held the Timbers to just 30% possession. When the two sides came back from the break, it only took the Timbers 5 minutes to regain the lead. Ariel Lassiter put the cross into the net, which was great work, but Velde’s slid rule pass in the box to Jimer Fory, who then put in the cross, showed the team was reading from the same playbook.

The Timbers created turnovers through constant pressure which led to more chances - in the 56’ Basset banged one off the post and Kelsy skied the rebound, but they were dialing in closer and closer. San Diego subbed in new signing Elias Achouri in the 58’ and he proved to be a pest - just minutes later Brandon Bye got twisted up and had to limp off the field. 33 year-old Eric Miller, who had not made a first team appearance for nearly a year, came in for Bye.

It was Da Costa, who put in a long range banger in the 68’, who sealed the win for Portland. Velde earned his third goal involvement by dancing with the ball in the box, drawing defenders into his gravity well, then distributing the ball back up to Da Costa, who finished from distance.

Achouri and company continued to push but it felt like, despite the possession, the clever passes and runs off the ball, had dissipated. In the 83’ the legendary Diego Chara added to his total appearances record, having made over 400 total league appearances in regular season and playoff play. Winding down the match, down two goals, it seemed like San Diego succumbed to fouls to disrupt the Timbers’ possession and flow - the tables had been turned.

Overall, this Timbers side looks confident and like they have a plan - less like an all out, helter-skelter attack with no regard for team defense or tracking back. It will be exciting to see how the rest of the season plays out. Photographer Jay Ortiz was on assignment for Protagonist Soccer and provided the photos for this article. Follow him on Instagram, HERE.

written by Joshua Duder
photos by Jay Ortiz