Pantemis steps up, but Timbers still searching for answers
In addition to figuring out where his offense is, Phil Neville has a decision on his hands at keeper.
At least Phil Neville believes one of the decisions ahead of him has a safety net.
Portland keeper James Pantemis was the highlight for the Timbers during their 2-0 loss to Nashville SC Saturday night, with his two penalty saves in the first 17 minutes of action delaying a relentless Nashville attack. While one of the two goals Pantemis allowed the rest of the way was savable — Nashville’s in first-half stoppage that squeezed between his leg and the left post — it was a second consecutive quality performance for Pantemis in relief of the injured Maxime Crepeau.
“It was probably the first time in my career that I had to have two in one game,” Pantemis said of the PKs. “It’s never easy. Obviously, I see it as a little bit of luck and a little bit of just trying to read players.”
There was already a vocal contingent of Timbers fans that wanted to see more of Pantemis this year over his fellow Canadian teammate. The “Pantemis Prime” brigade has been further fueled by a start to the season that has seen Pantemis allow two goals in two starts, as opposed to the four Crepeau allowed in the season-opener against Vancouver.
Both brought into the club before the 2024 season, Pantemis came to Portland in an expected backup role but has been vastly better at keeping the ball out of the net. Portland’s 1-0 win over Austin FC earlier this month was Pantemis’ sixth clean sheet with the club — five more than Crepeau, whose one clean sheet has come in five more starts.