The Portland Timbers can't seem to find the key to holding a lead and not giving up late goals. After losing to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 April 14, the Timbers returned home for what is being described as some serious soul searching. Still, there were some standout minutes played by some on the Rose City side.
Boyd, Mosquera on Team of Week
The 2012 Week 6 MLS Team of the Week features two Portland players who had their best overall games of the 2012 season. Kris Boyd found the back of the net for the first goal of the game, and Hanyer Mosquera provided some defensive speed that can hopefully inspire some others on the backline.
It was just the third goal of the year for Boyd, but he was putting himself in position to get more if there had been better service in, and his hustle back through the midfield to help try and open up opportunity to the net. Not to mention the one that got away when Boyd was mistakenly called offside for what would have been his second score of the match.
Mosquera had missed some games due to injury but looked fresh and capable against the Galaxy. While Robbie Keane was able to exploit the side again and again, Los Angeles found it hard to bring anything in near where Mosquera was covering. The Team of the Week notes say fellow Timbers teammates could learn a lesson about strong one-on-one defending, and that's a conclusion had to argue with.
Down to no. 17 in MLS Power Rankings
The Week 6 MLS Power Rankings aren't kind to the Timbers, but that shouldn't surprise anyone. After failing to hold a lead for three games in a row and losing four in a row, the Timbers are one step nearer the bottom of the Power Rankings. Just expansion side Montreal Impact and hapless Toronto FC are ranked under them.
As a Timbers fan I'd love to argue the no. 17 ranking, but I can't find any reasonable ground to stand on if I were to dispute it. The Power Ranking seems more than appropriate considering the inability of the Timbers to keep a lead or defend in the latter minutes of a half. Watching the game against the Galaxy, the Landon Donovan could almost be seen coming.
If the contest would have went the other way against the Galaxy, we would be talking about how the Timbers turned things around, but that is going to have to wait. There's a great opportunity to make a statement coming up in the next match, when the Timbers host Sporting Kansas City April 21.
Jeff Musall has been a fan of the Portland Timbers since moving to the area in 2001. He is excited about the 2012 season and wants to see the team turn things around.
