PORTLAND, Ore. – The only way last week’s lessons become valuable is if you apply them, and do so as soon as possible.
That’s one way the Portland Timbers can turn the corner on what happened on Sunday. Though there was a chastening aspect to Atlanta United FC’s 2-0 victory at Providence Park, Portland didn’t play poorly; they just didn’t match the level of last year’s champions. In mid-August, that’s fine – it’s not the worst place to be. Now, the team knows where they need to get to.
With only nine games left in the regular season, the progression needs to start now; not so much to make up the five-point gap between the Timbers and second-place Minnesota United FC, but to make sure the team doesn’t run out of time before the postseason, when then games will really count.