It’s a scoreline that says nothing went right for the Portland Timbers.
But their 4-1 loss Saturday night against FC Dallas in the heat at Toyota Stadium might have gone a bit differently if a few things fell the Timbers way, head coach Caleb Porter said in his postgame comments.
“I think it’s a closer game than 4-1, but the only thing that matters is that we lost 4-1,” Porter told the media. “That’s the only thing people care about, and ultimately that’s all I care about and that’s all the guys in the locker room care about. But I do think it was closer than a 4-1 result.”
True, FCD out-shot Portland 16-10 (7-3 on goal) and the possession battle was virtually even despite the home side going up a goal 12 minutes in. But with the Timbers facing a 2-0 deficit in the second half, manageable at the time according to Porter, they had two good looks to turn the game on its side.
Two open Liam RIdgewell chances on set pieces in the 66th and 67th went lacking the finishing touch. And soon thereafter Kellyn Acosta made it 3-0. All of FCD’s goals from the run of play came on counter attacks, with the fourth a late penalty kick from Mauro Diaz.
Portland’s only goal came on a stoppage-time penalty kick with FCD ahead 4-0.
“If we score we go 2-1, but again they come down and score on the first chance they get and now it’s 3-0,” Porter said. “So it was a game where you leave feeling like we played better than the score, but all we care about is the result. And it has to be better. I take responsibility. I’m the coach; I apologize to the fans. We took one on the chin today, but we need to pick ourselves up and get back to work.”
Portland, who came into the match unbeaten in three of their last four games, remain in playoff position, sitting in a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with 32 points from 22 games. But their last four road matches have presented a disturbing trend for Portland, having been outscored 14-1 across all competitions.
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They face another match away from home Sunday against the San Jose Earthquakes.
“Give them credit, they’re on a good run, this was their fifth win in a row, but I thought we came out and played well,” Porter said. “But the game didn’t fall, we didn’t get any breaks. … People will see the 4-1 result and think we got completely dominated; I don’t think that happened. But ultimately all that matters is the result.”
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
