What just happened?
That
was the question on the minds of the Timbers players, fans, and anyone
else who watched the Timbers give up two goals in the final five minutes
in a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. What just happened?
After
the final whistle, almost everyone associated with Timbers had the same
glazed over, look of shock on their face. Whether it was Merritt
Paulson with head-in-hand in front of his office computer or Kris Boyd
slumped over with both hands on his chin in the locker room, no member
of the Timbers organization could seem to make sense of what had just
happened.
Just 30 minutes before
the final whistle, the only question running through the minds of the
Timbers Army was, “did that just happen?” As Darlington Nagbe blasted a
volley over Nick Rimando giving his 2011 MLS Goal of the Year a fitting
sequel and the Timbers a 2-1 lead 65 minutes into the match.
But,
Nagbe’s golazzo was not the question on everyone’s mind after the
match. John Spencer faced the media with the same look of confusion that
was being worn by most at Jeld-Wen. What just happened?
“I
don’t think at any one time Real Salt Lake stopped fighting,” Spencer
said. “We knew we had to match them for 90 minutes, and we matched them
for 84 minutes.”
As to what
actually happened on the two goals that were scored late by RSL, the
replays tell some of the story. On the tying goal by Jonny Steele, the
usually reliable James Marcelin gave the ball away softly to Javier
Morales. Then Steele easily sidestepped Eric Brunner, who looked to be
running on fumes.
The game winner
by Kyle Beckerman is even easier to diagnose after multiple viewings. At
least seven Timbers defenders were ball-watching and none of the
players on the pitch saw Beckerman waving both his arms in the air to
notify Fabian Espindola that no one was marking him.
And
if Beckerman’s face looked familiar during his post-goal celebration,
it was because it was the same one that Troy Perkins had as he sat down
on the field staring at his defense. What just happened?
The
Timbers aren’t the first MLS team to lose a game they were winning
after 85 minutes. And they won’t be the last. It is how they come back
this April Fool’s Day-like stomach punch that will define the early part
of their 2012 season.
Will the
memories of Saturday lead to sluggish performances in upcoming games vs
Chivas USA, LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City? Or will the
disappointment provide motivation going forward?
While
those questions will be answered in the coming weeks, one direct
question remains as Jeld-Wen Field employees cleaned up a deserted,
dimly-lit stadium.
What just happened?
-- Mike Donovan
-- Mike Donovan