Two meetings, two goals and a much needed break
The Timbers bounce back at home against Colorado.
PORTLAND — Phil Neville has danced around the fatigued topic lately.
The Timbers have played eight matches in May, a month that included trips to Tacoma, San Jose, Salt Lake City, San Jose again and Orlando with Portland laboring through injuries to players such as James Pantemis, Diego Charra and Jimer Fory. It’s a stretch that’s seen a club that was once second in the West, and at one time unbeaten over the course of seven matches, stumble into Wednesday’s May finale against Colorado at Providence Park. The Timbers sat in fourth, the Rapids were a point behind in fifth, and there was no denying the importance for a Portland squad finally set to get some rest, with 10 days off before their next match against St. Louis.
“It’s been a demanding month, but I won’t say there’s any fatigue in camp,” Neville said on Tuesday. “I think that anyone thinking fatigue is making excuses. We’re ready for this game. It’s a big game.”
Still, deep down, Neville knew his club needed a spark. An offense that ranked as the best in the MLS at the end of April had sputtered with two goals in its last four matches. Antony hadn’t scored since March. Jonathan Rodriguez’s anticipated return from an offseason knee injury has had little impact and the designated player is still on a considerable minutes restriction. The flow and joy, as Neville likes to say, of a Portland attack that thrived with speed on the counter for the season’s first two months had fizzled.
So Neville called two meetings on Wednesday before Colorado.