Juarez has got to be the worst half time coach in the league, the team ALWAYS comes out flat out of the half
What gross weather. Heavy wet snow mix... there's legit risk of some hypothermia for fans, and maybe even some players.
Subs just because don't need to happen, but several times in the Freddy Era we've clearly been overrun and out-strategized by an opponent and he's done . . . nothing. This has been a rough 30 minutes and getting worse the last 10-15.
I see Kyle flagging a bit - he ran his ass off in the first half - and think Rowe is the sub we need. But okay, Sam and Joao in for Corey and Damir.
All this, and Silva's off-target header is all that is keeping us from the lead. Was that both him and Nedum coming up for the same ball at midfield? Good thing we got the rebound, because the lack of communication left us mighty vulnerable.
SAVARIIIIIIIIIINOOOOOO! Huzzah! Whatever else Plata has or hasn't done since he came on, he has understood that Portland is vulnerable on the far side, repeatedly.
I'd like to take responsibility for Portland's goal. I had to step away to help the kids with something and they scored while I was gone. I was here for both goals. Kids laughing at me as I celebrated Sava's goal.
Hot damn. The new playoff format was good for us in not having to play a game there. We were great from 1-45 and then pretty good from 75-90. 46-75, yuck.
Nicky gets One More Game! It was clenching in the second half, but we found a way though. RSL! RSL! RSL!
I'm gonna be honest. I left at halftime because I was chilled to the bone. I drove home with my seat warmers at max and the temperature set to 79. I watched the end of the game wrapped in a thick blanket. I'm now lying in bed under THREE blankets. And I am still cold. It was SUCH a fun game to be at, but I couldn't take any more.
Great game! Ismitje nailed the breakdown of how we played. 46-75 were pretty bad. I was impressed with the double sub. Some have said Plata and Sam looked a bit disconnected, but honestly, they created complete havoc for the Timbers. Rusnak and Silva both had chances to put the game away, but the two subs really created the goal for Sava. Luckily we didn't find ourselves a goal behind at that point. Everton played lights out, and Beckerman has been very good with positioning and creative passes. Beckerman was gassed and getting left in the dust on the counter, so Rowe made sense, but it was nervous at times. I always love snow games. Fantastic night, fantastic result!
What a game! I'm still wet. We dressed warm, so managed the temps okay. It helps that my 11-year-old is rarely cold. I'm glad Freddy didn't wait any longer on the subs. I was hoping for something in the 70th minute.
I've never wanted to see a player just get cleaned out so badly before. His antics are maddening. Also, why did he not have to leave the field after the trainer came on to "make sure he wasn't dead" from the little bump Beckerman gave him?
Bobby Warshaw writing about today's games on the league website: "On a day of end-to-end games, thrilling back and forths, and wild finishes, Real Salt Lake put together the best 90 minutes." Read his full take here, it's interesting.