Match 15: Austin Aztex 1-2 Portland Timbers

By: Bob Kellett | July 11th, 2009

Bottom Line: Johan Claesson scored an improbable goal in stoppage time to lift the Portland Timbers to a 2-1 victory over the Austin Aztex in the first ever meeting between the two teams. Just seconds after Austin’s Gifton Noel-Williams leveled the score with a header three minutes deep into stoppage time, Claesson was able to find the goal to as the Timbers (8-1-6, 30pts) extended their unbeaten streak in USL-1 play to 14 games, the second longest streak in league history. Mandjou Keita scored in the 14th minute to notch his league-leading 7th goal of the season. For the next 76 minutes it looked like his goal would stand before the crazy finish in Texas. The Timbers will make one more trip to Austin (3-8-6, 15pts) this year on September 7 and will also host the expansion Aztex on September 7.

Timbers Lineup
GK Cronin, D Hayes, D Keel, D Knowles, D Thompson, M Suzuki (Pore, 59), M Claesson, M McManus, M Farber (Nishimura, 83), F Josten (Savage, 65), F Keita (McLaughlin, 86)

Did you notice…

Fucking bizarre ending. Coming off the heals of conceding an extra time goal against Minnesota, the Timbers looked doomed to repeat a similar fate when they let Williams score off a corner. Somehow they were able to score before the final whistle. A big three points that lifts them into a tie for first place.
Keita’s goal was a gift to him thanks to Tony McManus (I think, hard to tell on the buffering-like-crazy ‘puter), who used a slide tackle to free a ball to Keita. Mandjou was clinical in the finish. Truly a goal that came from some skin on the turf.
The first 14 minutes of the game were all Austin. They had the Timbers on their back heels and were controlling possession. It was something that we haven’t seen happen against Portland in league play in quite a while. Keita then scored and that settled the Timbers down a bit.
Not the best performance we’ve seen from the Timbers this seen, but good enough. Nice to see them dig one out. Call it a B+ effort and an A+ result.
Steve Cronin was off his line more than usual. I thought he played one of his better games of the season. When he was needed, he made a few big saves.
Austin is one of the better looking expansion teams I have seen. They have some talent. Just need a few more pieces. They look like Manchester United when compared to fellow USL-1 newcomers, Cleveland.
One position I will keep an eye on in the coming weeks is left mid. Ryan Pore was arguably the team’s MVP before he was injured. Takayuki Suzuki has done a very nice job starting on the outside, but does he stay there when Pore is at 100%? Tough call. Suzuki is better at setting up his teammates and he works very well with David Hayes. Pore is a much better finisher and is more capable of stretching the field. Tonight Suzuki got the first 60 minutes and Pore the last 30. I’d expect that ratio to be reversed sometime soon.
The Timbers haven’t lose in league competition since April 25. That was 14 games and 78 days ago. Remarkable. The league record for unbeaten play was set by Rochester in 1998. I don’t recall how many games those Raging Rhinos went without defeat.
Love Andy Mac’s photo of the Timbers’ dressing room in Austin. A great blueprint for the away dressing room at a renovated PGE Park.

Keel and Knowles had their hands full trying to keep Austin’s attack in front of them. Both of the Timbers center backs are so well at positioning that they don’t often get beat, but tonight they struggled a bit one on one.
Always dizzying watching a soccer game on a football field. Must have been even dizzier for those in the stands who had to put up with the ridiculous Texas heat. Anyone willing to watch sports in near empty stadium in 100-degree temps deserves credit. And a free trip to the psychiatrist.
Nice to see former Timbers keeper Sam Reynolds playing for Austin. He’s one of the good guys even when he suits up for the enemy.
Sullivan Silva is a nifty little player for Austin. The Brazilian schooled David Hayes a couple of times, which is something you don’t see happen very often. He’s a player worth keeping an eye on the next few years.
The Timbers continue their four-game road swing with a pair of games against Miami next weekend. They won’t, but they should stay in Texas and train in the heat.
That was a hell of a first half of a season. I can’t recall a run of play that has been this good for this amount of games. Much credit to the team and to the coaching staff. They have assembled a team that is fun to watch and that is getting results. I feel a bit spoiled.

Match Reports

Late Claesson goal lifts Timbers to road win (Portland Timbers)
GAME RECAP: Aztex surrender stoppage-time goal, fall 2-1 to Portland (Austin Aztex)
Aztex lose to Portland 2-1 (Austin American-Statesman)

Photo: Alex McDougall