Portland Timbers thrash Minnesota

After a day of tumultuous weather, the Portland Timbers took the field at PGE Park and faced off against the Minnesota Thunder, banging around the bottom of the table. The Timbers were on a roll with a franchise record win streak in the works. They immediately expressed themselves as Brian Farber raced to pull a ball back from the end line on the right and fed it in front of goal to Josten who slipped it into the net. It was an example of the precise touch following on extra effort that has been a hallmark of the Timbers' game style this season. Taki hit a line drive into the goal from the outside left at twenty some yards illustrating his scoring capacity and his work rate tonight included allowing Minnesota players to lift him horizontally into the air where he spun like a ninja in a ShaoLinh movie. The final tally was five to one. The last two goals on corner kicks were probably a result more of Minnesota's rattled nerves after multiple ejections, but the game was clearly the Timbers' from the start. And their poise and versatile approaches to bringing the ball into danger were exhilerating to behold. The win streak went intact, a new record, and the club goes forward in both league play and Lamar Hunt Cup competition in a way they never have done before. As a Timbers' fan of more than thirty years standing, I have to say I have a hard time remembering more stylish play.

That being said, I find myself musing about the Minnesota Thunder and teams in the similar situation of being thrown into the 'outer darkness'. The Thunder didn't play creative ball but they made a valiant effort. Their goal on a set play was a gorgeous strike and, if they hadn't come emotionally unglued, they might have been in a tie game at the end. But the ejection of one player when they were down seemed to unleash desperate emotions that led to increasingly reckless play. None of which justified the swipes, pulldowns, or other fouls. At the same time, I suspect that it is hard to keep one's head when the whole machine is in a tail spin and no one knows where to find the exit or the controls. Having teams spinning into self-destruction isn't a good thing for the league nor for any teams in the league. Franchises that are weak, poorly funded, poorly managed, or otherwise crippled make the whole league vulnerable. And the Timbers have been 'that close' to falling into that category. Luckily ownership and other leaders have made choices which have kept the 'boys in green' from stumbling over the edge. We should always wish for the strongest and best competition; winning against cripples is not winning.

At the end of the day, though, this Portland Timbers side ranks with the best ever going all the way back to the legendary Timbers of the 70s. They are earning their place in our mythology with their excellence. I look forward to watching them march forward to new victories.