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City Chopped Down By Portland Lumberjacks in Green (NYCvPOR)

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NEW YORK CITY, NY – After facing the third place team in the Western Conference mid-week, New York City FC hosted the West’s second place Portland Timbers on Saturday evening. NYCFC came in with 50 points, second in both the East and in the league, while Portland were sixth in the league at 41 points. Both teams looking to make the race to the top of their respective conferences more interesting.

Starting XI

Some players returned, and some went down, however the injury-plagued NYCFC did have 18 players to dress on Saturday night, including new signing Andraž Struna. The only two changes to the line-up from Wednesday night’s line-up were in the front three. Rodney Wallace, who scored what was ultimately the MLS Cup winning goal for the Timbers back in 2015, came in like-for-like for Jonathan Lewis and Khiry Shelton comes in for Ugo Okoli and switches places with Jack Harrison, making Harrison the striker. Andrea Pirlo started for a second consecutive match (first time since starting the first seven matches this year), and Tommy McNamara was given captain duties again.

First Half

The first fifteen minutes were not great for either side, with City getting the only shot, but off target. Crosses into the box for each club ended bearing no fruit. In the 22nd minute, Timbers midfielder David Guzmán earned a yellow card with a foul on Maxi Moralez a few yards outside of the penalty area. Pirlo’s shot on target, however, was saved by Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco then earned a yellow in the 27th after persistent infringement. The 34th minute was a scramble on the edge of the Timbers penalty area, but still, nothing doing.

In the 41st and 42nd minutes, Sean Johnson came up huge with two big plays, a save off of a free kick, and preventing Timbers forward Darren Mattocks from a goal on a one-on-one.

But what seemed to be a slow but promising first half turned into a nightmare in the 44th minute. Pirlo lost possession and switched off completely asking for a foul, while Mattocks fed a ball to Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri who scored his 17th goal. That goal tied an MLS record of a goal in seven consecutive matches.

City had the best record in MLS coming into this match of 5 wins after conceding the first goal. The Blues headed into the locker room in this same situation that they have been in before. The halftime score was 0-1.

Second Half

The second half started hot with a free kick set piece. Frederic Brillant tried to head the ball into the goal, but Attinella came up with the save. Brillant remained on the ground and tried again on the rebound with his head inches off the left post, but the ball went past the wrong side.

In the 64th minute, Valeri was played through again, but Johnson dropped to his right to make the save. Okoli came in for Pirlo in the 67th minute and took over striker duties, with Harrison stepping back into the midfield. Ben Sweat earned a yellow card for a foul on Darlington Nagbe, a Timbers midfielder. Then in the 73rd minute, Lewis substituted RJ Allen. Diego Chara, midfielder for the Timbers, then conceded a free kick in the 76th minute and Moralez stepped up to take it. The ball was inches away from the top right corner.

Wallace could not find any meaningful contribution against his former MLS club, and was subbed off for John Stertzer in the 83rd minute. Then he 84th minute, Johnson stole Portland’s chance at a second goal, saving the shot from Valeri.

Moralez was next to see yellow after a foul on Guzman. Then in the 95th minute, City have one final chance, taken by McNamara, but Attinella caught it easily.

Full time, 0-1 loss. Portland ends City’s 10 game home unbeaten streak, handing the Blues their second home loss of the season.

Next Match

Next week Saturday, City pay a visit to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to face the Colorado Rapids. Another late night for City fans on the East Coast, as this match will kick off at 9:00pm Eastern.

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