PORTLAND — As he surveyed the scene, Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter on Monday said the small but passionate group of fans who greeted his club on Monday at Portland International Airport embody the spirit that brought him to Portland in 2013.
“This is what you dream of,” Porter said. “When you come to coach at a professional club you want to have supporters like this. That’s what makes it relevant and meaningful. Ultimately, that was a big reason why I left college was to come and to do something that’s never been done in a community that deserves it.”
By playing FC Dallas to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, the Timbers earned their spot in the MLS Cup final. Next Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, they will battle the Crew for the Major League Soccer championship.
Which is why Porter said he will wait to celebrate this season.
“It was tough for me, because I wanted to celebrate last night, but I just couldn’t because I know there’s another game,” the coach said. “But I also don’t want to understate the significance of what we’ve accomplished in winning the first trophy in the MLS era.”
The fans, of course, will celebrate any chance they get. Jeff Johnson of Portland, a member of the Timbers Army charitable wing, the 107ists, was plenty happy to welcome home the team.
“I’ve always believed in our club and thought that we could go far,” said Johnson, who has been a fan since the Timbers were reborn in 2001 as a second-division club. “We’ve had our ups and downs, though. Like any other club does we’ve had a roller coaster, so we appreciate the highs just that much more.”
Sunday itself was a roller coaster ride for the Timbers and their supporters. A Fanendo Adi goal put Portland in good shape with 35 minutes left. Two quick FC Dallas goals meant the home team could force overtime by scoring once more. It looked like that would happen in stoppage time, but Nat Borchers came to the rescue with a desperate block, then Lucas Melano dribbled around the defense and the goalkeeper for the clinching goal.
“Terribly nervous,” said Johnson, who watched the Dallas match from his Portland home but tends to be in Columbus for the final. “Then when we finally got that goal that set us free, it was just a big relief — years of relief actually.”
Diego Valeri, who had an assist on both Timbers goals at Dallas, said that hoisting the trophy on the field where he tore his ACL at the end of last season was special.
“On the same field where I got injured last year I had the opportunity to lift up the trophy for this team,”Valeri said. “I’m really thankful to God, to these people (fans), to the staff who worked with me, to my teammates.”
Tuesday the Timbers return to the training pitch to begin their final week of work in 2015.
“We’ll work,” Valeri promised. “Because we want the big one.”
Video: Timbers arrive to cheers at PDX
