PORTLAND — Diego Valeri was tired and sore at the end of his first full match of the Portland Timbers preseason.
But the Argentine midfielder was still able to smile Sunday after a match that saw Valeri contribute to each of the Timbers goals in a 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC at Providence Park. Valeri also drew two hard fouls that got a pair of Minnesota United players ejected from the game.
“I’m feeling good,” Valeri said. “In the last 10 minutes I was really tired. But it’s the first time I played 90 minutes this preseason.”
Sunday’s match, part of the Simple Invitational preseason tournament, was the first time the Timbers have played in front of their fans since capturing MLS Cup in December. The dismantling of the North American Soccer League opponent gave the announced crowd of 13,431 plenty to cheer. For the most part, it produced what Timbers coach Caleb Porter was looking for.
“We got out of it what we needed to get out of it in terms of physical minutes, in terms of attacking play,” Porter said, noting that six field players went the distance.
What Portland did not get was much of an attacking challenge from Minnesota United, especially after Tiago Calvano in the 45th minute and Kevin Venegas in the 62nd drew straight red cards for fouls against the elusive Valeri.
The second of those red cards led to Portland’s second penalty kick of the game, which Valeri converted for the 4-0 lead. In the 11th minute — after Valeri was tripped in the penalty area, Fanendo Adi converted for the first goal of the night. The other goals came from Lucas Melano in the 36th minute at the end of a quick four-pass buildup and from Darlington Nagbe in the 56th from a nifty give-and-go with Valeri.
Valeri chalked up the rough fouls — one a hit from behind and the other a two-leg slid into Valeri’s feet — to typical preseason rustiness when neither team is in a good rhythm.
Still, Valeri said he is glad to be experiencing preseason for the first time in three years after rehabilitation slowed him at the start of 2014 and 2015. His focus now is on bringing energy to the team.
“I’m training hard to be ready for that first (regular-season) game,” he said.
Not tested on Sunday was the Timbers defense, though goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey made two saves — one on a dangerous shot from 20 yards.
“I know we’ll be threatened a lot more on Wednesday (against Vancouver) and Saturday (against Chicago) defensively,” Porter said. “And we need those games to get ready, because we didn’t get pushed or challenged much on the defensive side.”
Defender Liam Ridgewell did not play Sunday because of tightness in his calf. Jermaine Taylor started at center back alongside Nat Borchers with Zarek Valentin starting at left back and Andy Thoma playing there the final 23 minutes.
Porter said Ridgewell should be ready for the March 6 regular-season opener against Columbus, and ideally will be able to go in Saturday’s last preseason match so that the presumptive starting back four of Borchers, Ridgewell, Taylor and Alvas Powell can play together before starting league play.
Fire 3, Whitecaps 2 — In the Simple Invitational opener, Chicago got penalty-kick goals in the second half from Gilberto and Kennedy Igaboananike to beat Vancouver.
Up next: On Wednesday, Minnesota United plays Chicago at 5 p.m. with the Timbers taking on the Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m.
