Jack Cassidy made things simple — and got Portland winning again
Before handing the keys to Martí Cifuentes, Jack Cassidy guided Portland back into playoff position — sealed by an improbable derby winner from Brandon Bye.
PORTLAND — Brandon Bye answered politely with a smile, though his eyebrow disagreed with the premise.
The Portland fullback had just scored the game-winner against Seattle with a driving shot through traffic in the 82nd minute. The 2-1 win was Portland’s third in its last four matches, kept the club undefeated under interim coach Jack Cassidy and handed Seattle its club-record sixth consecutive loss.
A sold-out Providence Park roared like it did in any of the best years, and then, given the rare postgame podium, Bye was told he wasn’t a goal scorer.
For someone who doesn’t do that, what does it feel like afterward?
It was Bye’s first goal in more than 2,600 minutes. It was his first as a Timber and the 11th of a nine-year career in which he has never scored more than twice in a season.
But his eyebrow furrowed, as if the reporter hadn’t just watched him take David Da Costa’s centering pass at the top of the box and thread a hard shot through three defenders and the goalkeeper.
“It’s fun — the guys were playing it on the TV in the locker room and I was checking it out again,” Bye said. “Honestly in the moment, you kind of understand how it happened, but not really — you feel it hit the back of the net then you go celebrate.”
Then he added: “There’s been a few goals out there.”
He had done it before, so he believed he could do it again. Portland needed a goal. Bye scored it.
It’s a simplistic way of describing a moment that sent Providence Park into bedlam and Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer into his own press conference to complain about, of all things, the Tifo. Then again, simplicity is what the Timbers say has keyed an otherwise improbable run back into playoff contention.
A month ago, Portland sat 14th in MLS’ Western Conference with a minus-six goal differential and a talented team that often looked frozen on the field. Cassidy took over for Phil Neville in early June and stewarded the club through the World Cup break. The Timbers returned with a 5-1 win at Seattle, tied Dallas 2-2 and followed with their first victory at Providence Park since May 9, a 2-1 result against Salt Lake.
When they went down 1-0 in the 27th minute Saturday, it was clear to the Timbers not just that they needed to come back, but how to do it.
“(Cassidy) keeps it simple,” Bye said. “The duels, the aerial duels, the clearances — all these things he keeps simple and guys have really bought into that. … And then that gets guys in the right position to show their quality.
“You see Kristoffer Velde, you see Kevin Kelsy, you see David Da Costa, Cole Bassett, Ari Lassiter and Antony, these are great players in great spots and that structure we’re in now really keeps them in attacking spots where they can go.”
It was Kelsy who scored the equalizer in the 41st minute, flying through the air and connecting on a Velde service with his torso for his fourth goal in his last three matches. And while it took time for Bye to finally strike, the Timbers finished the match with more shots on goal, 12 more touches in the opposing box and 72 more completed passes.
Portland’s goal differential has swung by nearly two goals per match in the transition from Neville to Cassidy, and Bye’s goal highlighted perhaps an even more telling stat: Portland has scored more second-half goals in Cassidy’s four games — nine — than it scored in Neville’s 14 — eight.
Cassidy’s Timbers had beaten Seattle before. Even after going down early, they believed they could do it again.
“Well, I’ve heard that I won’t have to buy a drink anymore,” Cassidy said. “So if anyone sees me, I like a non-percent Heineken, and my wife’s a red wine.”
It is a small but notable chapter in Timbers history, certainly worthy of a toast. Cassidy will soon hand over the keys to incoming manager Martí Cifuentes before Portland’s next MLS match.
He had never managed in MLS before. Afterward, he’ll return to leading T2.
Portland was outside the playoff places when he took the sideline. Afterward, he’ll hand over a team sitting eighth, in the final wild-card position.
“We said after the break, on the first day, how do we create a higher bar for the next incoming head coach, and the lads put themselves right back into the mix,” Cassidy said. “You know, the season is bang on now. We were drifting a little bit more than we wanted to at the break, so it’s just credit to the whole squad.
“It’s been a pleasure.”
— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor