Portland – History was on their side today. After sweeping the Timbers last year (twice in Portland) the Goats had shown that winning at Jeld Wen Field was a possibility. Of course that was practically a completely different team then. So how would this one fare? Would it build on what last year’s team had started?

Advertisement Sadly, no. The same team that showed up in April continues to appear in May. Two weeks in, and they have already been out-scored 7-0. Today’s first goal came from Costa Rican International, Rodney Wallace, on a text book counter-attack. 1-0 to the Timbers. And that’s how the 1st half would end. The worst was yet to come.

The 2nd half saw Jose Correa replace Giovanni Casillas. Newest Goat Martin Ponce (who I at first thought was Miguel Angel Ponce for some reason) made his debut as a 2nd half substitute, replacing Marvin Iraheta. By the 65th minute, Jose Rivera had replaced Tristan Bowen. Unfortunately the added offense was not enough as the Timbers made it 2-0 a mere 5 minutes later. The Timbers would slice through the non-existent defensive line to set up Diego Valeri. Goal number 3 for Portland came courtesy of Will Johnson as stoppage time started.

“It’s tough to go through, but we can either have our heads down or keep fighting,” defender Steve Purdy-Ramos told MLSsoccer.com. “Next week at home, we have to get a result. That’s the bottom line. These things happen in the league; you go through your ups and downs."

If 3-0 wasn’t enough to make any Goats supporter do a facepalm, then the embarrassing shot of Mario de Luna shoving a ball boy (regardless of who was in the right) certainly made you do a facepalm. The team already gets the worst press in the league. Shoving kids and getting a yellow card won’t do the team, or its supporters any favors.

So what’s next for our train-wreck……errr…. I mean team? Real Salt Lake comes to the Rental (it’s what I’m calling the Stub Depot Palace) next week. They seem to have the Goats beat everywhere, so set your expectations to low. No TV as always, and the free video stream on cdchivasusa.com is not reliable. So get out to the stadium and support the team. Tickets are adequately priced, and the “El Super” chain of markets may have vouchers for free tickets with your grocery purchase.

Coming off last week’s less than stellar performance, the Goats came into Sunday’s match against FC Dallas, looking to get the season started on the right foot. And like last week allowed the opponent a scary shot on goal before the end of the 1st minute of play.

“Here we go again”, this examiner thought to himself.

As the half wore on, the game play slowed. The team got better adjusted on the field. And again like last week, ended the first half all tied at 0.

The Goats got more aggressive in the 2nd half. But as fortune would have it, Dallas got the go ahead goal in the 57th minute. Barring any hiccups from the Dallas defense, they could have very easily gotten out of town with 3 points in tow. For today at least, it was Chivas USA who was gifted goals at the hand of a shaky defense. The first came courtesy of US International, Juan Agudelo, who rounded of Dallas defender Matt Hedges in the 68th minute, for a left strike that beat Goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

Goats goal #2 came courtesy of Ecuadorian International, Oswaldo Minda. After a botched clearance by Dallas defender, George John, Minda was quick to pounce on the ball, curving just left of Fernandez.

Goal #3 was a bit ironic as it came when Dallas was pushing forward for the equalizer in stoppage time. In similar fashion to the Columbus Crew’s 3rd goal last week, the Goats were quick to kickstart a counter attack following a Dallas corner kick. The ensuing sequence of passes and final shot was a sight for sore eyes to many in attendance (yeah, yeah, insert joke here) who hadn’t seen the team win at the Apartment in nearly a year, let alone see the team win any match since last July.

3-1. To the victors goes the spoils. Now, about that so called “Clasico” next Sunday afternoon versus the team from down the hall. The neighbors will be coming off what promises to be difficult CONCACAF Champions League, winner take all, match on Wednesday. Can the Goats take advantage of the 3 days of extra rest along with a possible tired opponent?

We’ll find out next Sunday at 2pm. This, for the record, will see Goats as the road team.

The farthest this examiner had ever traveled in covering/supporting the Goats
was Salt Lake City.  That particular trip took 12 hours.  Not to mention the
loss of one hour due to entering the Mountain Standard Time zone.  While one
didn’t have to cross a time zone to get to Portland, the extra 5 hours and a bad case of the
runs certainly made the trip feel longer than it should have.  Granted, the
bridges, mountain ranges, plains, rivers and lakes were a wonder for the eye to
see.


The Goats came into this past Saturday’s match with two straight wins over
the Portland Timbers.  One away in Portland earlier this year, and the
other a couple of weeks ago at the Home Depot Center.  The Timbers had lost 4 in
a row, and were hoping to change their fortunes.  In their only visit to
JELD-WEN Field last year, the Goats had come away on the opposite end of a 1-0
scoreline.


Arriving in Portland the day before the match allowed the traveling
supporters from the Black Army to get to know their surroundings.  With a
light-rail station across the street that lead straight to the stadium, we were
off to explore.  All in all, a nice city.  One that seems knowledgeable in
regards to its local MLS team based on the amount of team gear one can
purchase almost anywhere, and fans eager to talk about the team/engage in
friendly banter.  Of course there will be a jerk every now and then no matter
how well things go.  But we can’t judge an entire fanbase on the sayings of one
person.  Still, the expedition into the city gave us in the group an idea of
what to expect the following day.  


Riding the train from the Red Lion Inn, the Black Army chanted the ride away
to the surprise of many Timbers supporters on board.


“This is the loudest I’ve heard away supporters on the train ever”,
said a passenger wrapped in a Timbers Army scarf.


And so the chanting continued right up to 10th street and Morrison, where
everyone got off and marched to the stadium.  Going right past the Timbers Army
entrance made for an entertaining, if not explicative laden conclusion to the
march.


As for the match itself, this examiner thought back to a question asked on
the trip up to Portland: “What are your predictions for the match?”


“It’s going to be a 1-0 undeserved win for Chivas USA”.


By the time the 1st half was over Portland should have been up at least 4 or
5 to nothing.  Many failed offside’s traps and superior passing from the
opposition could very well have done the Goats in.  But a nice save here and
there along with plain bad luck up top for the home team meant everything was
all square going into the half at 0-0.


The start of the 2nd half was more of the same.  While the traveling Goats
supporters section sang loud, and often, The Timbers were having as bad of a day
as possible.  And just when it seemed that Portland might break through, Dan
Califf connected with header off a Ben Zemanski free kick to put the Goats up
1-0.  Pandemonium ensued in section 223 of Jeld-Wen Field.  How long the lead
would last was anyone’s guess.  But for now the flags waved, hands were clapped
and vocal cord limits were put to the test.


Unable to see the match clock from our seats, many were left wondering
exactly when the match would end.  Emotions can get riled up more than normal
when one has no idea how much time as passed, or how much time is left. 


This examiner stood by his prediction of an undeserved win as the players
applauded the traveling contingent of supporters.  At no point in this match
should the Goats have had a lead.  One almost felt sorry for the Timbers and
their fans.  So many losses lately and so many chances to win on the night.  The
wrong team won that night.  Regardless of this examiners personal feelings, the
feeling of joy, and relief (more so relief rather than joy) spread about our
section as our team had gotten 3 vital points on the road.  


With the match in the rearview mirror, it was time to head back home the
following morning.  Departing at 11am, we wouldn’t arrive back at our original
point of origin until 5am the day after.  It was a long grueling trip that saw
us pass dormant volcanos, towns named after medicinal drugs, no sales tax, and
farm fields that went on forever.  A trip that won’t be forgotten anytime
soon.


With that said, the Goats now prepare for the 3rd and final encounter against
their neighbors this season.  Things are even at the moment with each team winning one match a piece.  But goal differential currently favors the other
team.  Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday August 12th at 8pm.