The Portland Timbers are battling for a playoff spot and the New England Revolution aren't. That's exactly how it looks at Jeld-Wed Field tonight as the Timers have completely dominated the Revolution, showing off some quality and also playing with far more fire than the group from the northeast who are just counting down the days until the offseason. Goals by Diego Chara and Kenny Cooper have put the Timbers up 2-0 at halftime and with Rajko Lekic having already been substituted off with an injury, there doesn't appear to be a way back for the Revs.
Portland Timbers Vs. New England Revolution Live, 2011 MLS: It’s All Timbers At Halftime
It was Chara who got the Timbers rolling when he was able to slip through the Revolution defense and finish well, sliding the ball just inside the post to put Portland on top. While Chara did well to finish, New England have to be furious with their defending and Shalrie Joseph in particular, who just watched Chara dribble by without even pretending to make an attempt at stopping him.
While it was Cooper who doubled Portland's lead, it was Mike Chabala who did the work. The ball found its way to Chabala on the left, who got into space and played a cross right to Cooper in front. It was aless of a shot and more of Cooper letting the ball hit him and go in, but however he did it, it was a goal.
The Revolution may be down 2-0, but it feels worse. They are better than the Timbers in the center of the midfield so Portland is going everywhere but the center. Guess what? It’s working. Other team better somewhere, don’t go there. Really intensive soccerball tactic things.
Only once have the Revolution looked remotely dangerous and that was just on a great individual play by Milton Caraglio, who did wonderfully to turn a rip a shot that Troy Perkins had to make a good save on. Add in an injured Rejko (there is no report on the kind or extent of his injury yet) and the Revolution are in a deep hole, while the Timbers are flying.
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