The Portland Timbers hit the road on Sunday for the first away test of the Marti Cifuentes era. The Timbers traveled to the Windy City for the first matchup with the Chicago Fire since a 2-1 defeat at Providence Park in July 2023.
Lineups
Marti Cifuentes' first road test with the Timbers featured several key changes from the last Leagues Cup match against Club Tijuana. James Pantemis returned after spending time in Concussion Protocol, Brandon Bye returned, Chara returned after resting against Tijuana and Antony started on the wing for Ariel Lassiter.
The starting 11 for the hosts featured four changes from their showdown with Cruz Azul. Leonardo Barroso started in place of Jonathan Dean, Sam Rogers started in place of Joel Waterman, Maren Halle-Selassie started in place of Sergio Oregel, and my fellow countryman Robin Lod started in place of Puso Dithejane.
First Half Highlights
8'- Zinckernagel looks to connect with Lewandowski across goal for Chicago's first real chance of the game. Brandon Bye steps in to intercept, but the ball deflects for a Timbers goal kick.
9'- Goal, Robin Lod. 1-0, Fire.
12'- Jimer Fory sets up a cross for Kevin Kelsy. Kevin attempts the bicycle kick but goes out of bounds. Goal kick, Fire.
14'- Lod crosses the ball to Lewandowski; Kamal Miller jumps in front of the shot. Djae D'Avilla gets the ball, goal, Fire. 2-0.
17'- Zinckernagel sets up a cross for Lewandowski. Finn Surman steps in front of Lewandowski, which sends the ball wide.
18'- Velde sends a corner kick to Finn Surman, but he is not quite able to get there. Goal kick, Fire.
25'- Velde stands over the corner kick. Da Costa comes to strike the deflection, but sends it right into the supporters' section.
31'- Zinckernagel sends it high in an attempt to float it into goal. Robert Lewandowski camps out underneath in an attempt to add the third onto the board. James Pantemis catches the ball.
34'- Kevin Kelsy scrappily attempts to get into the box, but sends the ball off Antony for a Fire goal kick.
42'- Velde with a good shot at Chicago's Chris Brady, who parries the ball.
45- +2 minutes of added time.
46- Fory takes a shot that ultimately goes just barely wide.
HALFTIME- Chicago Fire 2-0 Portland Timbers
The first 25 minutes or so were all Chicago. With the Fire having scored two goals in the first 15 minutes, the Timbers were left stunned. As the Timbers head to the locker room and look to make changes ahead of the second half, this is an opportunity for Cifuentes to show his changes.
Second Half Highlights
45'- The Fire start with the ball
46'- Zinckernagel forces Pantemis to come out for a huge save, clearance PTFC.
48,'- Lewandowski takes a strike from distance. James Pantemis saves the day again.
51'- Brandon Bye sees the yellow card.
54'- Corner, Timbers.
56'- Corner, Timbers again. Finn Surman with the almost chance.
57' - Antony takes a shot. Diego Chara goes down. Robin Lod sees yellow.
59'- Velde goes down from a tackle by Barroso.
60 '- Timbers set piece.
61' SUBS
TIMBERS: OFF: Antony, Cole Bassett // ON: Joao Ortiz, Ariel Lassiter
FIRE: OFF: Phillip Zinckernagel, Robert Lewandowski // ON: Puso Dithejane, Jonathan Bamba
66'- Barroso commits a foul against Velde.
71' SUBS
CHICAGO FIRE: OFF: Leonardo Barroso // ON: Jonathan Dean
73'- Fory daps up Gregg Berhalter as he takes a throw-in near Chicago's bench.
75' SUBS
TIMBERS: OFF: Diego Chara, David Da Costa ON: Jose Caicedo, Vincent Janssen
77'- Dithejane sends one just wide of Pantemis
81'- Robin Lod takes a shot, but Pantemis comes up huge again.
82' SUBS
CHICAGO FIRE: OFF: Saletros, ON: Pineda
85'-PORTLAND TIMBERS GOAL AND IT'S FINN SURMAN'S FIRST IN MLS
88' SUBS
TIMBERS: OFF: Kamal Miller ON: Omir Fernandez
90'- 4 minutes of stoppage time added
93'- Jimer Fory comes up huge
93'- Omir Fernandez with a good shot
94'- Vincent Janssen sees geel (yellow in Dutch)
Final- Fire 2-1 Timbers.
Marti Cifuentes' first road test in MLS ends in a narrow defeat in Chicago. What proved to be a rocky first half showed signs of improvement in the second. Having only been in Portland for a few weeks, Marti and his staff are still implementing ideas based on how he wants his team to operate. On to San Diego Wednesday.
