Recap: Portand Timbers vs Minnesota Stars
August 12, 2010 — PDXPIPELINEBy Ben Golliver
Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer
Timbers Cling To Draw As Minnesota's Coach Takes A Walk Of Shame
Everything went according to yesterday's pre-game plan right up until the 63rd minute, when last night's match between the Portland Timbers and Minnesota Stars got just plain kooky. Portland midfielder Ryan Pore had just put the Timbers in front for the first time, absorbing an inside-the-box assault and drawing a penalty. Lording over the spot almost impatiently as he awaited the referee's go-ahead, Pore finally approached the ball with a perfectly-timed deke, sending Minnesota's keeper guessing the wrong direction before plastering the ball into the net's empty left side for a 2-1 lead.
From there it should have been cling-to-the-lead time for Portland, who could have used a solid win, both for their confidence and for their league standing. It didn't work out like that thanks to Timbers defender Ian Joy, who was sent off for an inexplicable and inconsiderate rough tackle — no questions asked. Immediately, the floodgates opened. Minnesota applied persistent pressure with the man advantage, finding space on the wings and room up the middle as well. All this despite a red card for Manny Lagos, Minnesota's coach — shown shortly after Joy's red — which led to some theatrical jacket-throwing and angry foot-stomping behind the team's benches. Finally, Lagos completed his surreal walk of shame past the Timbers Army, off the field and into the locker room. You don't see that every day.
Coach or no coach, it took less than ten minutes for Minnnesota's Simone Bracalello to exploit Portland's disorganized, undermanned defense, rising to head home a virtually uncontested corner kick cross to  knot the score at 2. That's where things ended up: 2-2, a missed opportunity for the Timbers despite some hilarious fireworks for its sell-out crowd of supporters.
Bright Dike scored Portland's other goal just before halftime. Minnesota's Ely Allen struck first thanks to some early-game lackadaisical defending by the Timbers.
The Timbers will return to PGE Park on August 26th to host the Austin Aztex.
———-Ben Golliver
Ben Golliver is a freelance writer, native Oregonian and avid follower of the Timbers. He edits Blazersedge, co-hosts The Dontonio Wingcast and regularly contributes to SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter.
August 13, 2010 at 05:31
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August 26, 2010 at 00:03
[...] Timbers Cling To Draw As Minnesota’s Coach Takes A Walk Of Shame [...]
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September 2, 2010 at 00:01
[...] Timbers Cling To Draw As Minnesota’s Coach Takes A Walk Of Shame [...]