We're catching Portland right as they've begun waking up (winning two in a row after six winless to start the season). Hopefully our competitiveness the last month carries over, overcomes their newly-found form, and this one is three points (we need it to be).
My youngest graduated from the U yesterday. As part of his graduation gift we’ll be on the first row at the center line on the west side. A win would be very nice.
Who was that gift for, you or him? Sounds like it could be a "hooray, no more tuition to pay" present to me. Congratulations to all of you.
Neither Rimando nor Beckerman in the 18. Some stats person will probably dig up the last time that happened, but it can't have been often the past 14 years.
That's perhaps even an understatement. Never should have happened. This is a cruel game...to go from a possible lead and miss the penalty to down 1-0 a few minutes later is a big change.
...and Portland now rolling with the momentum a bit. Halftime without another goal would feel good right now.
Sam Johnson's runs often befuddle me, and I wonder if that's why his teammates don't find him more often. Even short movements. One one corner, for example, Baird was at the far end of the 18 where the ball was coming down; Johnson ran right at him and messed up the play (and was also no longer in position to receive the ball from Baird). Even on the play where Savarino's cross hit Valentin for the PK, Johnson had wandered offside so if the cross went through, the play would have been dead. I have the Portland broadcast, which includes Nat Borchers not so much as a sideline reporter as a sideline analyst (he regularly joins the conversation with the main two in the booth). He observed that on the season, several of Johnson's offside runs aren't even close - he's way offside - and he'll need to figure out the pacing still.
No shortage of opportunities. Even a PK. We should be winning this game and still can with some finishing.
Ah, darn - that ball bounced just at the wrong time for Johnson to control it. Tuiloma was there defending too.
(Portland announcers both mention that if Johnson attempted/controlled with his left, the Tuiloma could not have defended, only fouled.)
ohhhh, feel like Sam could have done more with that but it was Yes, right at gut level...not much he could do with it.
Little hop on that ball back made it tough for Baird to get that one on goal. We're ascendant right now.
Should Putna blasting the ball deep over and over. Should he just start trying to put those on frame?
Portland announcers observe that on Portland's two opportunities, they stayed calm in and around the box and were ready for the rebounds. Two good chances, two goals.
4-1-3-2 down the stretch with Lennon on for Besler and Petke throwing the dice. But why not, this is a pretty bad result if it holds.
Certainly a LOT of offside calls for Sam. I certainly think he needs to adjust to the team and expectations. However, at times I think adjusting to him a bit is called for as he has some great early runs where if they found him earlier he would be in a great position.
Now that we're in this attacking formation, we just keep turning the ball over. Perhaps no one knows which runs to make, channels to fill, or passes to make with this lopsided of a lineup.