Inside MLS: Portland Timbers

Inside MLS: Portland Timbers — page 3
CHAPTER 1 ROSE CITY BREAKTHROUGH The Portland Timbers missed the Major League Soccer MLS playoffs in 2014 and there was little reason to believe 2015 would be any different Portland began the 2015 season with its two best players midfielders Diego Valeri and Will Johnson sidelined by injuries suffered the season before The loss of Valeri was especially difficult He was a brilliant attacking midfielder and one of the Timbers best players at setting up and scoring goals With much of the team’s offensive production on the sidelines Portland tied in its first three regular-season games Then the Timbers lost their fourth game to rival Vancouver It wasn’t until their fifth game against FC Dallas that they finally broke through with a win But that did not Portland’s supporters group the Timbers Army celebrates a goal in 2012 4