Once again the fortress that is JELD-WEN Field has yielded another victim. The Portland Timbers had the bulk of the possession, the better chances on goal and in the end a Mamadou "Futty" Danso header was the difference as the Timbers down the Philadelphia Union 1-0. The win marks the second straight shutout for the Timbers who had been giving up goals left and right in previous games.
Portland Timbers Vs. Philadelphia Union: Timbers Shutout Union For Second Straight Win
Danso's goal came midway through the second half when the Union were whistled for a handball in the middle of the park. Jack Jewsbury had a tough angle on the free kick but he curled in a ball straight to Danso, who was free in the box to head it home.
The Timbers looked pretty solid throughout this game and held the bulk of possession in this one. Getting a second straight shutout at home is huge for the Timbers too. Their defense wasn't tested much tonight but the few chances that came the Union's way, Troy Perkins came up big or his defense in front of him did.
Neither side played all that well though. Philadelphia sat back for much of the first half and part of the second and really allowed Portland to take the game to them. The little possession they saw they wasted their chances with it. But give plenty of credit to the Union defense as it could have easily been a two or maybe even a three goal game for the Timbers. Faryd Mondragon and his defense really did a good job of shutting down the Timbers attack. The back four for the Union also did a good job of cutting down passing lanes.
The Timbers only had a few chances even with the bulk of possession. Kenny Cooper never got enough touches on the ball tonight but his partner up top, Jorge Perlaza was a workhorse all night for the Timbers. His energy allowed the Timbers offense to keep pressure on the young Union back line.
The loss for the Union isn’t a terrible ont but they have to feel this was a wasted trip to Portland as their offense never got going in this game. Whether it was the loud crowd in the stands or the shorten field, the Union just couldn’t get it going in the offensive end.
With the win the Timbers move up to a second-place tie in the Western Conference (with the Colorado Rapids), sitting just below the Los Angeles Galaxy.
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