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The Timbers Army in Providence Park stands to cheer on their team playing against the Columbus Crew on Sunday, March 6.
TIMBERS REPEAT WIN IN SEASON OPENER
BY KATIE ARCHER
photos by James Harley
During the season opener, Dairon Asprilla fights Columbus player Tony Tchani for
Before the 2016 Major League Soccer
season started, the Portland Timbers
unveiled their M LS cham pionship
banner.
On Sunday, March 6, the Portland
Timbers opened their M LS season
against Columbus Crew. For the third
time in a row, the Timbers defeated the
Crew 2-1.
When the game started, the Crew’ s
goalkeeper Steve Clark had his back to
the Timbers Army as they chanted "27
seconds.” The time it took for Diego
Valeri to score in the MLS championship
game. Head coach Caleb Porter thought
his team started the game very maturely
and responded excellently to the Crew’s
goal by Federico Higuain.
Higuain was probably the most
dangerous player of the game, according
to Porter.
“ I thought it was a really good game,”
said Porter. “ The only thing I think we
need to do better was finish off some
counter attacks we had. I thought we
were lethal all game long.”
In the first half, Dairon Asprilla and
Valeri were leading the attacks and both
had multiple missed opportunities,
including an offside call on Valeri which
took away a goal. Before the clock struck
23 minutes, Valeri scored the first goal.
The Crew brought on their attacks
and Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers and
Adam Kwarasey shut out the attacks
during the first half. During the second
half, Higuain ended the shut out with a
bicycle kick goal.
“ We obviously w anted to get the
shutout, but I thought that they created
some very good chances and Higuain
did a great job with the finish in their
goal,” said Borchers. “ Happy with how
we respond though, I felt like we did a
good job o f counter attacking th em .”
Fanendo A di scored the Tim bers
w inning goal.
“ It was a very important game for us.
First one after the MLS trophy,” said
Valeri. “ In the end we got three very
im portant three poin ts.”
A ccord ing to R idgew ell, after last
seaso n , th e r e ’ s go in g to be m ore
pressure on the Timbers to do well this
season and starting off with a win helps.
He also said the m entality o f .the team
is different this year.
“ W in n in g your first gam e is huge.
You’ re always struggling for your first
w in if you don’ t w in your first o n e ,”
said Ridgewell.
Porter is looking forward to the season
w ith his players and knows there will
be ups and downs during the season. If
the team plays the way they did Sunday,
Porter said there will be more ups than
downs.
“ W e showed today how hungry we
are. W e showed today we picked up
right where we left o ff,” said Porter.
“ I’ m confident we can continue to go
another level.”
ball possession.
Qadamas Print MARCH 9.2016 Ih ed a d a n w in k o m l