Are we ever gonna get back to our 2021 form? Since we made the MLS finals, we haven’t made it pass the first round once since then…

Insane that no foul was called

Not making it to this one. Have some funky sore throat thing going on. Best to play it safe. But I hope the Timbers don't play it safe! We need all 3 points!!

HYPE THREAD

Lineup Thread

Kick off is at 7:30 PM PST (probably closer to 7:40)

MLS Match Center

Portland Timbers 0 - 0 Colorado Rapids

5' - Dangerous crossing FK opportunity for the Colorado.

5' - Completely free header for them. Lucky they put it way over.

9' - First corner for us. please please please please

9' - Kamal hit the near post with his header! ARGH!

13' - 🟨 Yellow card for one of their CBs. Dude extended his elbow straight to Janssen's face.

17' - Velde pulls away and takes a hit from about 22 yards and isn't too far away!

18' - 🧤 BIG SAVE by Pants!

22' - I think Chara may have gotten away with one there. High elbow. VAR certainly looked at it, but didn't hold the game up, so what do I know?

26' - Great job by Janssen to check back and then switch the play quickly. Fernandez's cross was blocked but it was a good move.

33' - Velde picks up a loose ball and plays a WONDERFUL ball in behind for DDC, who eventually finds Janssen with a late ball. He has to score there. Keeper got essentially hit with that.

34' - Velde with a good look, but it is a semi-tame near post shot

38' - How is that not a foul? That should be a PK FOR SURE.

40' - ⚠️ VAR callin the ref over. It seemed like a shove in the back.

41' - FUCKING REF CALLS IT NOT A FOUL! FUCKING JOKE ASS LEAGUE!

42' - BIG SCRUM caused by a foul against Velde.

43' - 🟨 Yellow card for Velde. If the dude doesn't dive after Velde's bump, it would have been only him getting the yellow. Velde got played IMO. Couldn't keep his head. Shrug

43' - 🟨 Yellow card for Colorado #7 for the initial foul on Velde

45' - Velde puts the FK from the scrum foul straight into the wall.

7 minutes of stoppage is wild for a first half, but we did have a few decent stoppages.

46' - 🟨 Yellow card for Colorado #33 for several fouls on Velde.

48' - Izoita holds onto the ball too long, but manages to get the ball and evade 3 dudes.

49' - Chara gets hit in the nuts.

50 ' 🟨 Yellow card for their coach because he used to be a coach at Tottenham Hotspur.

Halftime

This game could go either way. We seem to be getting more chances overall. I still have no idea how that wasn't called a penalty. He was pushed in the back in the box. Just makes no sense. But this ref seems like he sniffs his own farts, so of course he would stick to his dogshit initial call. We can honestly pull this off. We just need to fucking bury one of these chances!

Halftime stats

48' - They create a decent chance from a corner. Pants had it covered even if it was on-frame.

49' - Great chance for Fernandez, but the ball from Hernandez was just a little too far behind him.

52' - Good exchange between DDC & Velde, but Velde couldn't control it.

53' - Janssen wastes a GOLDEN chance. He can't get it out of his feet for the strike and then the attempted pass was away from everyone. Damn.

53' - Fory with a dangerous ball across, but Fernandez got behind his man and Fory's nutmegged cross was a little too far behind him. MORE CHANCES PLEASE!

55' - Fernandez gets in behind but the ball across leaves something to be desired.

57' - Velde tries to control and lands on a defender's foot, but ends up with the ball and puts to Janssen's foot who hits the crossbar.

59' - Fory does a good job reacting and not letting his attacker get the touch.

67' - Caicedo & Lassiter ON 🔁 Chara & Fernandez OFF

69' - Decent chance for them, but it was a shitty shot in the end.

72' - Bassett & Ortiz ON 🔁 Janssen & Izoita OFF

80' - Velde trying to score with his chest for some reason. Bro, just score with your feet.

80' - Well, he did shoot with his feet this time at least.

82' - Aravena ON 🔁 Da Costa OFF

88' - Bassett's hard cross needs to be deflected by the keeper.

89' - AAAAAND THAT, my friends, is why we won't be making the playoffs. Velde does a wonderful job to carve out a right footed shot from the top of the box and he blasts it over the bar. Fun

3 minutes stoppage

92' - Not good. We should be pushing for a win, not defending a shot from 20' yard out.

94' - 1 more chance gets blocked and 1 more cross gets blocked.

Gameover

Fuck.

So let’s not pretend that a draw against a Colorado team that has an away record of 2-10-2 is anything to celebrate.

We’ve got 4 games left and we’re in a 3 way tie for 11th with 34 pts and still 5 pts behind Colorado in 9th. We play Charlotte (5th in the East), away in St Louis (2nd in the West), Houston (5th in the West), and close out away in Austin. Let‘s be honest, we’re not moving up into play ins for playoffs. We’re abysmal away and recently at home, still abysmal.

We’ve established that play in games are not good enough and we deserve better as supporters. This season, we’re not even making a play in game. It‘s not good enough and while I don’t think Marti is 100% to blame, Ned always is and we keep letting this go. Phil should've been gone 2-3 weeks earlier and we wasted a transfer window that left our squad completely weaponless.

I‘m ready to not watch or attend another first team game for the rest of the season and just support the T2 on their historic run. Unless changes are made, they don’t deserve the time, energy, or money if it is going to be wasted as it has been. I feel bad for the players, but you can see that some are just done with this season. Most are out there auditioning for their spots next season, but aren’t playing to win. I really think that unless we act and show our disdain for how this season is ending, we’ll be right here next season talking about play in games and fighting for 8th/9th. Evander called the front office out and we honestly have just sat and waited through more cheap and broken promises.

I think it’s time to call for Ned’s head during these last 4 games and cut the legs out from underneath the one‘s who are abusing us as the supporters. The only way I feel to get our message across at this point is just don’t show up and literally say, “we don’t support the product that you’ve given us, do better.” What a better way than taking away the hands that feed them and supporting the team (T2) that are actually producing the results we want. Some might not agree and that’s okay, but I’m tired of the lack of accountability season after season.

I rarely get upset with Apple's announcers, but this guy is a complete moron.

I know he’s double and triple teamed sometimes, and that’s gotta be difficult. But is he going down looking for a call too often?

Incredible turnout, incredible game: These boys deserved it! Last night truly felt like a T1 match. Absolute magic! Look forward to more nights like these!

Dos Diegos? Why not Once Diegos?

I get that T2 had an amazing night.

But is the MLS season over? Are we just over supporting first team? ....

Where is the hype thread?

Who are you voting for this year and why? I’m stuck between a few players

Can't make it; I have 2 seats in Toyota Terrace for free. Priority goes to anyone who can grab me one of the bags from tonight.

Edit: Just claimed; sorry everyone!

Whenabouts do you think it’s necessary to enter stadium for the giveaway tonight? By far the coolest item on deck tonight, but for the keychain goose I got there at 6:30 and there was a ton still left and I just sat around for an hour lol

What a game!

Can't make the match tonight.

First DM gets it!

I feel like a bitch in with a retirement party I promise

I have kept an on and off eye on T2 all year and now finally made it to the game like many folks did tonight, but man Lund looks like a baller.

I know MLS Next is much much worse than actual MLS but this kid looks rock solid, played youth at a big German club before moving over here. I could see a call up for him in the future and would love to see him progress at the club!

Did I miss it?

Capos dont seem to give a fuck. Am I missing something?

T2 KEEP THE SHEETS SPARKLING CLEAN AND HAVE A HANDSOME AS HELL COACH!!!!

TIME TO MAKE A PLAYOFF PUSH AND GET US A FIRST MLS NEXT PRO TROPHY!!!!!!

3-0 T2 WINS AND WE MOVIN ON!!!!!!

Hey friends! It's kids author (and Pennsylvania-area Timbers fan) Jonathan again. I had been out earlier this summer for some book events and doing some stuff w/ the Timbers and I got to meet some of you then, which was so awesome!

I'm back in Portland again this week doing school events with Timber Joey, for his Rose City Readers program, but I also have my own story time at Powell's City of Books TOMORROW (Saturday) at 10:30am.

I would love to see some of you if you have kids and need something to do in the morning! I'll be reading TINY T. REX TRIES SOCCER and my newest holiday book, plus signing whatever other books they have in stock. No problem if you can't make it, it was just really fun getting to connect with some of you at my last event in Portland.

Also, I'm excited to go to my third match at Providence Park tomorrow night! Hoping we finally get a win!

Cheers and #RCTID

- Jonathan