Rodriguez’s performance secures important draw for Timbers against Vancouver | Sports

Jonathan Rodriguez waved his finger, then stretched his arms out in disgust.

Down a purpose late within the first half to rival Vancouver, the Portland Timbers ahead had simply completed what had seemed unattainable for the sport’s first 42 minutes: he beat keeper Yohei Takaoka.

But instantly after Rodriguez booted the ball excessive into the Vancouver web, the officers waved it offside. Rodriguez protested — however he didn't pout for lengthy.

It was Rodriguez’s purpose a minute later, off an help from Santiago Moreno, that powered the Timbers to an important 1-1 draw against a Vancouver staff intently sure to the Timbers within the standings. It was Rodriguez’s team-leading sixteenth purpose of the 12 months, and got here with MVP candidate Evander suspended for the sport as a result of yellow card accumulation.

“That was almost a playoff game in itself in terms of the tension, the nerves, the results matter,” Portland supervisor Phil Neville mentioned. “We’re away from home. I think that result away from home will give us confidence.”

With the win, the Timbers (12-10-0, 45 factors) picked up a much-needed level in a Western Conference race that sees the membership tied with Minnesota for eighth place within the standings.

The Timbers got here into Vancouver (13-9-7, 47 factors) figuring out the problem dealing with the membership. Portland’s closing out the season with three of its closing 5 video games on the street, and whereas the staff battled from behind to safe a 3-3 draw per week in the past in Salt Lake, the membership didn’t seem to convey that momentum with it north of the border as Vancouver surged out to a 1-0 lead within the second minute.

In reality, the Timbers performed on their heals for a lot of the opening half, with a sequence of turnovers and sluggish errors placing the strain on Portland keeper — and Canadian native — Maxime Crepeau to maintain the Timbers afloat till the offense discovered one thing with out Evander on the pitch.

The Timbers lastly discovered that within the forty third minute when, simply moments after the purpose was negated by offsides, Portland discovered itself charging again down the pitch. The ball went from Miguel Araujo to Moreno to Rodriguez, who blasted a shot along with his left foot that deflected off a defender and into the online.

“In the first 20 minutes, I didn’t see a team that was going to do everything possible to win a game,” Neville mentioned of Portland’s sluggish begin to the match. “Then after 20 minutes, I saw a team that took ownership.”

The Rodriguez purpose was the final strike of the match for each side – largely due to Crepeau. In the second half, Portland’s keeper stopped one point-blank try from Ryan White, then pressured the Vancouver striker right into a shot off the put up simply minutes later.

With three video games remaining, the Timbers return to Portland to shut out their house slate with matches on Wednesday against Austin and Saturday against FC Dallas. And whereas Portland has but to clinch a spot within the postseason, Neville mentioned Saturday’s resolution places the membership ready to manage its personal future.

“When we were setting goals for this season, I think we would have said, look, three games to go with our destination in our own hands, in our own control, with two games in front of the Timbers Army [we’d take that]…now it’s all up to us to do what we do at home. Two really tough games against two really good-coached teams.

“But it’s in our own hands.”

Next up: With three video games remaining, the Timbers return to Portland to shut out their house slate with matches on Wednesday against Austin and Saturday against FC Dallas.

— Tyson Alger for The Oregonian/OregonLive