PORTLAND — Misfortune. Sure the Portland Timbers experienced more misfortune on Sunday at Providence Park.
But the bottom line was that despite stretches of strong soccer and meaningful possession, the Timbers produced only one goal and suffered a third consecutive frustrating 2-1 loss — this one to New York City FC.
Thomas McNamara’s goal in the 65th minute was the winner for the visitors, and Portland fell deeper into a funk and farther behind most of their Western Conference rivals.
Still, coach Caleb Porter called Sunday’s effort the best — and chalked the result up to the cruelty of soccer.
“Bar none, best performance of the year — after multiple injuries and two losses in a row,” Porter said. “The challenge now will be to keep that energy up again, keep that mentality up again, keep that positive play up again.”
Portland took 24 shots on Sunday, 19 of them inside the 18-yard box, and until McNamara’s go-ahead goal against the run of play dominated possession and played most of the match in the attacking half.
“As long as we keep playing like we did today we’ll win games. So that’s the positive we’ve got to take out of it,” team captain Liam Ridgewell said.
One talking point will certainly be David Villa’s goal that put New York City ahead in the 12th minute. A handball that went uncalled preceded a perfect pass from NYCFC right back RJ Allen that sprung Villa.
Fanendo Adi scored the tying goal in the 55th minute, scoring at the end of a quick buildup. Darlington Nagbe’s pass allowed Adi to power his way into the box for the finish. But in a twist that captures the way things have gone for the Timbers this season, Adi left the game moments later with a hamstring injury. Porter said an MRI will determine the severity of Adi’s injury.
NYCFC regained the lead when McNamara curled a nice shot just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and inside the right post. His opportunity from outside the 18-yard box came after a counter attack that the Timbers dealt with, but could not regain possession.
“If I could be a little bit quicker stepping out to him that would be great,” Borchers said. “He gets an unbelievable shot off. I think it hits me a little bit and is able to fool Jake.”
On the opening goal, Allen pushed the ball past Nagbe with his arm and then sent a perfectly weighted pass from midfield that allowed Villa to split Portland’s defense and slot the ball past Gleeson. Portland had a clear gripe on the play, however, because Allen played the ball with his arm to get beyond Nagbe and create space to make his pass.
In his postgame comments, Porter said called Hilario Grajeda one of the best officials in MLS and that the fourth official or the assistant referee on the sideline should have helped with the call.
“After the game, he admitted he didn’t see it. But how does the fourth (official) not see it. That’s what they’re there for. It’s a blatant handball. You can see it from miles away.”
Still, Nat Borchers noted that it took a perfect pass to set up Villa. Borchers also pointed out that luck might have evened out since Portland’s second goal in their MLS Cup win came after the official missed a ball going out of bounds.
The way injuries have bitten the Timbers in 2016 certainly signals a change in karma. Adi became the 12th player to suffer an injury this season — the 10th who figures into the starting lineup mix. Portland played Sunday without injured midfielder Diego Chara (toe), winger Darren Matocks (knee surgery) and goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey (finger).
“We can’t make any excuses,” Borchers said. “With the talent we have on this team, and with the quality of character we have on this team there’s no doubt in my mind that we can move forward and deal with these injuries.”
Portland was dominant in the first half with 63 percent possession and six corner kicks. Applying upfield pressure like it did successfully for a half at Dallas, Portland kept the pressure on NYCFC for much of the first 45 minutes, taking 15 shots including 13 from inside the 18-yard box.
There were good chances, too. In the fifth minute, Diego Valeri recovered a loose ball near the penalty spot, but his first shot was blocked by a sliding Jason Hernandez and his second effort scudded wide of the left post. Borchers missed the target with a header off a corner kick. And Josh Saunders made four first-half shots, including one on a curling shot from Nagbe in the 17th minute.
Two minutes into the second half, Saunders dove low to his right to stop another Nagbe chance that looked destined to tie the score.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and an afternoon that saw more than one Timbers player looking to the heavens after a chance went unfinished means they are looking up at eight teams in the standings.
“I’ve got a group of guys that know they played well today, and I told them that,” Porter said. “I told them to just keep doing what they did today.”
Match notes
Where they stand: Portland is 3-6-3 with 12 points from 12 games, ninth in the West.
Up next: Vancouver at Portland, 1:30 p.m. May 22.
Lineup notes: Ben Zemanski and Jack Jewsbury paired in holding midfield as Portland returned to a 4-2-3-1 formation in the absence of the injured Diego Chara. Jermaine Taylor started at left back, with Liam Ridgewell and Borchers in central defense and Zarek Valentin on the right. With Darren Mattocks (knee injury) and Dairon Asprilla (coaches decision) not available, Nagbe started in a wide left position with Diego Valeri in central and Lucas Melano on the right.
Scoring leaders: Adi and Villa each scored their league-leading eighth goal of the season on Sunday.
Scoring summary
NYCFC 2, TIMBERS 1
New York City FC 1 1—2
Portland 0 1—1
First half—1, New York City FC, David Villa 11 (RJ Allen, 12th minute).
Second half—2, Portland, Fanendo Adi 11 (Darlington Nagbe, 55th); 3, Thomas McNamara 10 (Andrea Pirlo, 65th);
Goalies—New York City FC, Josh Saunders; Portland, Jake Gleeson.
Yellow Cards—RJ Allen, New York City FC, 24th; Ben Zemanski, Portland, 38th; Josh Saunders, New York City FC, 87th.
Referee—Hilario Grajeda. Assistant Referees—Jeff Hosking, Eduardo Mariscal. 4th Official—Alex Chilowicz.
Lineups
New York City FC—Frederic Brillant, Jason Hernandez, RJ Allen, Ronald Matarrita, Andrea Pirlo, Mikey Lopez, Mix Diskerud (Mehdi Ballouchy, 74th), David Villa, Khiry Shelton, Thomas McNamara (Ethan White, 84th).
Portland—Jermaine Taylor, Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers (Jack Barmby, 76th), Zarek Valentin, Ben Zemanski (Ned Grabavoy, 82nd), Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Jack Jewsbury, Lucas Melano, Fanendo Adi (Jack McInerney, 58th).
