Game 26: Timbers 1 – Puerto Rico 0

In their last home game in the second division, Portland Timbers outlasted Puerto Rico Islanders and won the emotional game on Ryan Pore’s diving header in the 83rd minute. The three points secured against a playoff rival move Portland well clear of competition for fourth place and bring the Timbers’ unbeaten streak to six games. The loss for Puerto Rico ended a nine-game unbeaten streak, failing to earn points for the first time since early July.

The match was physical from the start with the Islanders doing their best to slow the match and prevent Portland’s new-found attack. Instead of allowing Puerto Rico to dictate the terms of the match, as has been the case all too often this season, the Timbers pushed back and kept the pressure on the visitors. Pore, Johan Claesson and Doug DeMartin all had quality looks on goal as Portland occasionally emerged from the rugby-style mess in the center of the park. Both James Marcelin and Ibad Muhamadu received yellow cards and the match very much seemed to be headed for a nil-nil draw, the same result as a nearly sold out match against Puerto Rico in 2009. But DeMartin’s cross found Pore’s head on 83 minutes and that was all Portland and the Timbers Army needed to send the Timbers out of the second division in style.

Of course the season is not yet over, four away games in a row, three of which come against serious competition, including a rematch with Puerto Rico. There is still room to stumble before the playoffs begin, but it now appears that Portland have turned their season around and are heading into the post-season with a bit of momentum. In 2009 Portland ran off 24 consecutive matches without a loss. That is a distant memory, but the difference in 2010 is that the Timbers are picking up wins toward the end of the regular season while last year the final four matches included several losses. Again, the final four games will clarify exactly what kind of team will be playing for the Timbers’ first second division title, but as of September 2, the picture is looking much better than it did even one month ago.

Category: Portland Timbers, USSF Division II