Evander Golazo: Timbers defeat NYCFC 2-1, Jonathan "Cabecita" Rodriguez Deal Imminent
Portland comes back from a rough start and 0-1 deficit to win on the road in spectacular fashion.
What a day to be a Timbers fan.
The Portland Timbers travelled to the Big Apple to take on NYCFC, overcoming defensive struggles and a 0-1 deficit to steal three points culminating in a dramatic walk-off winning goal from Evander.
The win wasn’t the only thing to celebrate, as Tom Bogert of the Athletic reported that Club América’s Jonathan “Cabeceta” Rodriguez is closing in on a signing, working out final details and emerging as the star #9 Designated Player that the organization has been hyping up for months.
Uphill Battle
Taking a look at the lineup for Saturday’s match, the most notable addition is Evander who’s making his regular season debut after dealing with a lower leg injury the past two matches. Midfielder Eryk Williamson was reported to out with a hamstring injury. The full lineup and discipline report is here:
POR: GK Crépeau, D Mosquera (Araujo, 90+5), D McGraw, D K. Miller, D E. Miller, M Chara ©, M Paredes (Ayala, 90+2), M Evander, F Antony, F Asprilla (Fogaça, 69), F Moreno
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, F Ikoba
Misconduct Summary:
POR: McGraw (caution), 19
POR: Paredes (caution). 31
On a rainy Saturday afternoon in a sparsely attended Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NYCFC dominated the first half of action and scored first. Santiago Rodriguez scored NYC’s first goal of the season in the 9th minute, taking advantage of a disorganized Timbers defense to deflect the ball right into the net from a corner opportunity.
The Timbers took control of the second half, and had the majority of possession throughout the match as a whole. The Green and Gold were rewarded for their efforts when Juan David Mosquera cut it back across the penalty box to a wide open Antony, who converted a well-earned goal in the 84th minute to level the score.
The final goal and game winner came in dramatic fashion, as the goalscorer Antony passed the ball to a hungry Evander, who scored a wonderful goal from outside the box to win the match just at the end of injury time in the 96th minute, completing the storybook comeback.
The Timbers had simply looked lethargic at the start of the match. Conditions weren’t on their side as they were playing in a rainstorm on one of the MLS’s crudest pitches, as well as the leagues smallest. They came out in the expected 4-2-3-1 formation to begin the match.
With these conditions in mind, the Timbers were having issues overcoming them in the first half. NYC looked much more motivated right out of the gate, and completely outplayed them through winning one on ones, taking advantage of set pieces, and just generally looking more hungry and intense looking to prove a point after poor road results.
The center back duo of Zac McGraw and Kamal Miller underperformed, looking confused and messy as the Timbers struggled to play from the backline. McGraw had one of his worst matches as a Timber to date, coming up with a yellow card and having trouble keeping up with NYC’s speedy striker Mounsef Bakrar. Kamal Miller was a little better, and covered for McGraw preventing an NYCFC score at the beginning of the second half. Juan David Mosquera, while providing some dazzling moments on offense, has a lot of room to improve defensively. Eric Miller put in a very serviceable performance at left-back contributing some key clearances.
The player that prevented NYC being 3-0 up at the half rather than 1-0 up was Maxime Crepeau, who had another hero performance tallying five saves to keep the Timbers alive when his front four weren’t getting the job done. Given his last performance against D.C being able to maintain a draw in a match where the Timbers could’ve easily let it slip, Crepeau has emerged as a key signing and is proving to be a much needed upgrade.
As the second half began, Neville made some tactical changes including moving the defensive line up to create an Unai Emery-esque offside trap, which led to four offsides and prevented an almost disastrous second goal, as well as moved Evander further back. Nathan Fogaça being subbed in for a largely ineffective Dairon Asprilla was a positive change and his strike in the 73rd minute ignited the Timbers offense. Antony’s goal and match winning assist was another example of the growth that he’s presented this season. His third goal of the season put him in elite company tying Lionel Messi and Christian Benteke for most in the season at the time of the final whistle.
Evander took the game and ran with it in the second half, taking advantage of a NYCFC side that was waning in intensity. The Timbers haven’t had a DP in the lineup all season, and when the team needed him most he showed up. Evander dropping back allowed him to help the center-backs’ struggling passing game while also being able to be the maestro of attack. His game-winning goal was jaw-dropping, incredible, and every other positive adjective in the book, and showed that this is a never-give-up Timbers squad team that will keep going until the final whistle. The Gio-ball Timbers of old might’ve parked the bus after the game tying Antony strike being content with a point on the road, but Neville’s team won’t go out like that. The mentality has changed, and the Timbers and Evander showed real grit and determination, further cemented by the fact that Evander was only supposed to play for 60 minutes but chose to stay on as said in his press conference. He could feel a goal coming, and through all the rumors of a new DP coming to the team, our current one played like the record signing he is.
Diego Chara and Cristhian Paredes played well, and worked with Evander to maintain the Timbers possession having the ball 59% of the time, the first time the Timbers lead possession this season. Chara also officially passed Nick Rimando for the second most appearances with one team at 360, and is only seven matches away from surpassing Chris Wondolowski for the number one spot. Santiago Moreno maintained the chemistry on the right side with Mosquera, and had a match best 17 duels won and five tackles helping a struggling defense.
For Phil Neville, last night was a statement win. He’s off to the best start for a first year Timbers’ head coach in history, and had his first win in Yankee Stadium. He’s changed the mindset of this team, and with results like this the team will fulfill the every three year prophecy of making the MLS Cup. Evander was a shining example of what an effective DP should look like, and his last minute goal with all of the drama and meaning attached to it might just be goal of the year if Asprilla doesn’t lend another spectacular bicycle kick (he tried this match).
The Timbers are a dangerous team, and fans have all the reason in the world to be optimistic for the season. Antony is looking great, Evander is a leader on the pitch and a DP #9 would be the icing on the cake. It’s been a long time coming for the Timbers, and come back wins on the road without the backing of the Timbers Army are a diamond in the rough. They maintained their undefeated record at Yankee Stadium and did it sensationally. Neville is having a very un-timbery start to the season keeping the #1 spot in the west, and all signs point to it only going up from here.
DP Deal for Club América striker Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez Imminent
A few hours after the excitement of the NYCFC match, The Athletic’s Tom Bogert announced that a deal for Club América striker Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez was close to complete, with the overall framework being agreed upon and the final details currently being worked out for the long awaited #9 Designated Player signing. A previous article on the striker is here.
The Timbers were previously reported to have offered $15 million for CF Monterrey striker Germán Berterame, with that deal not coming into fruition likely because of Berterame being close to gaining Mexican citizenship in order to be a part of their national squad.
Rodriguez was reportedly one of three potential Designated Player targets for the Timbers with him, Berterame and another unknown player on the organizations’ radar. No monetary details were given for the deal, however if the Timbers are able to close him for $10 million or less, it’s very possible the team could add a second DP in the summer transfer window, potentially a player in the left-back position.
The Uruguayan has been a star for Club América, having nine goals in the current season and accruing 108 goals and 27 assists for three teams across Liga MX. He also had a short six-month stint with Al Nassr playing alongside Christiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. His highlights for América are here:
With the potential to be a 20-goal scorer for the Timbers, Rodriguez would be a huge signing. At 30 years old he’s an experienced striker who add an immediate impact to the Timbers attack, although his age is a double-edged sword and could lead the Timbers to be reluctant in signing him to a long term deal.
Cabecita has largely played on the left wing for América but is expected to play in the center-forward #9 role, competing for minutes with Felipe Mora and working off of young standouts Antony and Santiago Moreno.
In the Timbers current offensive form with Evander leading the charge, Cabecita could take the Timbers to the next level. The team already has the youth, and the additions of experienced players like Crepeau, K. Miller and potentially Cabecita would create a good balance. Coach Phil Neville and General Manager Ned Grabavoy know where this current squad is at, and it’s one great player away from making a deep run. The Timbers’ rebuild has been brief, and a potential record signing would complete the clubs rapid resurgence.
The Timbers play away against the Houston Dynamo Saturday, March 16th at 5:30pm PST. The match is available to steam on Apple TV+ and on radio at 750 The Game.
McGraw did have a very off night. Thankfully, Crepeau was there to pick up the slack! Good to see the Timbers on the better side of a stoppage time game winner for a change!
I wonder if Berterame ever really wanted to come to Portland. After the talks about him began to drag on and on, I was beginning to favor Cabecita since [it seems like] he made up his mind quickly to be a Timber! Maybe Merritt/Ned can use the extra monies to sign a decent backup left back! No disrespect to Eric Miller who has been filling in well as a defender.