Timbers apply more focus on defense

PORTLAND, Ore. — It took the Portland Timbers eight games to earn their first clean sheet of the season, but they certainly deserved to walk away with a shutout against New York City FC on April 22.

The Timbers put in their most comprehensive defensive performance of the year in that match as they limited a potent New York City FC attack to just three shots on goal en route to a 3-0 win.

But after conceding 14 goals in the first seven games of the season, Portland (2-3-2, 8 points) still has to prove that the defensive performance against NYCFC wasn’t an anomaly.

“We have to continue to work in defense,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said. “When we talk about defense, we talk about the whole team because it’s important that everyone has to defend. We’re evolving, we’re growing, we’re becoming stronger, we’re better, but it’s still something that we have to do constantly week to week, to work to be always better defending.”

Prior to the match against NYCFC, the Timbershad conceded a concerning average of two goals per game this season.

The defensive struggles have mostly been an issue late in games. Seven of the 14 goals that the Timbers have allowed this year have come after the 80th minute (eight goals after the 75th minute). And Portland has dropped points due to late concessions twice this season.

But the Timbers didn’t have that problem against the top team in MLS on April 22. They kept NYCFC off the board and found a third goal in the second half to put the game to rest.

“It was a very good performance by the players, but that’s now part of the past,” Savarese said. “I’ve seen the team improving in a big way defensively.”

One of the biggest differences on defense for the Timbers against NYCFC was the presence of Liam Ridgewell in the lineup.

Ridgewell made his return to the field against NYCFC after being left off the game-day roster by Savarese for four straight matches. He made an immediate impact with his ability to manage the backline and step up in key moments.

While neither Ridgewell or Savarese have discussedthe circumstances that led to Ridgewell being left off the game day roster for so long, the move came after Ridgewell was criticized for a perceived lack of effort against the New York Red Bulls on March 10. Ridgewell also said that there had been “disagreements” between him and Savarese.

With the issues surrounding Ridgewell, the Timbers haven’t been able to settle on a consistent backline this season. Six different players have started in the back four in the first eight games of the year.

Savarese said he is less concerned with having consistency on the backline as he is with rewarding the players that step up and prove that they deserve to play.

“As long as it continues to work, the ones that we put in, they’re going to continue to play,” Savarese said. “But also the ones that have the opportunity, they have to be able to be prepared to contribute when they come in.”