Yeah, I don't know what it is about Portland, either the team or the stadium but they have our number. Just like the game back in February Portland drove the ball down our throats and we had no answer. We had two great chances in the first 5 minutes that Crepeau stood on his head to keep out (one for Fernandez and one from Navarro) and then we didn't have another shot on goal until Armas threw in the towel and subbed the kids in late in the game. At that point we were down 4-0 and looking ahead to Leon on Monday.
I'm not going to go through and break down this game too much, largely because neither the game nor the competition deserve it. But to give you an example, on the first goal it was 5 Timbers attackers against 8 Rapids defenders (including Steffen). Despite that mismatch the only pressure put on the ball was a weak effort from Bombito on the entry pass and Steffen let the shot get between his legs. And it got worse from there (the lack of effort on the 4th goal was disheartening). Nobody had a good game, but Rosenberry, Vines, and Steffen had particularly bad ones.
The silver lining is that with a loss goal differential doesn't come into play. The winner (be it regulation or PKs) on Monday night advances, the loser goes (or stays) home. Honestly, I don't have high hopes but stranger things have happened. Should we fail to advance it will continue an almost 8 year streak of not advancing in knockout competitions against MLS or international opposition. That covers the MLS Playoffs (0 for 3), the Open Cup (0 for 3), the Champions League (0 for 2), the Leagues Cup (0 for 1), and the MLS Is Back tournament (0 for 1). The last 10 chances dating back to being eliminated by Seattle in the 2016 conference finals.
Man of the Match: Adam Beaudry, for getting the U-20s into the U-20 World Cup and the CONCACAF U-20 final, and for not being part of this mess.
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