Friendly: Timbers 3 – Boca Juniors 2
By: mao | May 30th, 2010
Photo by Steven D. Lenhart
Rodrigo Lopez (pictured during a post-game interview) led the Portland Timbers back from a 2-1 deficit late in the second half with an assist and a free kick goal for a 3-2 friendly victory over Boca Juniors. Matías Giménez and Nicolas Blandi tallied goals for the visitors within two minutes in the early second half to give Boca their first lead of their US tour. But Lopez, a second half substitute, made the most of his limited playing time with two electrifying free kicks. Ryan Pore’s sixteenth minute goal also gave the Timbers their first out-field goal since May 15.
As expected, substitutes made up a good portion of the starting XI against the Argentine giants. Bright Dike, Tony McManus and Ross Smith all earned starts with Ian Joy returning from injury. Smith made his first appearance since the Community Shield after suffering an injury that has kept him off the field for the first eight regular season matches. Dike’s only other start was in the friendly against Puntarenas where he scored the lone Timbers’ goal. Despite his lack of playing time this season, Dike was an early catalyst for the home side, bruising his way through the Boca defense and sending several strong shots at Josué Ayala. Though his touch is raw, his powerful presence is a nice change of pace up front for the Timbers. Portland also featured a visiting player, late in the game, as Haitian twenty-year old Jérôme Mechak come on in defense for Quavas Kirk. Though his time on the field was short, Mechak fared well on the right side of defense as the Timbers packed it in after Lopez’s game-winner. It is unknown if the club have any plans for Mechak but clearly the Haitian connection with James Marcelin is already paying dividends.
Alex Nimo started again for Portland and was absolutely thrilling, initially on the right side and later on the left. His cross gave Pore an open net for the opening goal and his constant activity frustrated the Boca midfielders more than any other Timbers player. Nimo was replaced by Lopez in the 71st minute, allowing the latter to reclaim his title as star of international friendlies. Last season Lopez scored from a free kick against Burnley and his quality was unsurpassed, except possibly by Nimo, in this year’s friendly with Puntarenas. Lopez’s first free kick was dropped beautifully into the box for Stephen Keel to head low into the back of the net. His second (actually his third, the second free kick went off the wall but was given another try after a Boca foul) curled beautifully around the Boca wall and into the top-right corner of the net.
On the whole, this friendly was as entertaining a game as there has been at PGE Park. Boca were determined to score after being shut out in their first two games in America (LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders) and endlessly attacked the Timbers’ goal. Steve Cronin produced several fine saves to keep the scoring at just two goals for the visitors, including a wonderful diving effort to deny Blandi his brace. American fans are often drawn to the English game, usually for language and familiarity reasons. Yet both friendlies this season have come against teams from Central and South America and have been much more enjoyable spectacles. The quick pace, perfect passes and sense of fun are all qualities that would make the Timbers a better side, if they could play like that all the time.
Perhaps the Timbers are just a club who play either up or down to their competition. The side that featured against Boca Juniors fared far better than when playing low-skill clubs like Crystal Palace Baltimore and AC St. Louis. Those sides foul often and slow the game down into something that is hardly recognizable as football. These Timbers appear to be built to run and play a more frenetic style, if only the manager would let them. Against Boca Juniors it was a necessity. Maybe it’s time Portland moved away from the English model.
Regardless, the 14,000+ fans got their money’s worth last night with an enjoyable game that showed the best of what football has to offer. A come-from-behind victory may also be just what the Timbers need to figure out what has gone so horribly wrong in the month of May. The next game is against Carolina Railhawks on Sunday June 6 back at PGE Park. Hopefully the Timbers will have learned from this friendly that they are in fact a quality side with skilled players.
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