Timbers have kinks to iron out before Decision Day

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images Last night it felt like two separate 45-minute matches were played in Providence Park, and somehow the Portland Timbers lost both of them. In a game where they rotated heavily against the Colorado Rapids, the first half wasn’t particularly close, even if the scoreline was 0-0. Portland played sloppy soccer, getting dispossessed often and making questionable passes in the counter-attack.

The second half was a lot better. Diego Valeri and Yimmi Chara both checked in, and Valeri specifically was able to direct the offense in a way that Eryk Williamson was not doing. Even though Valeri seemingly created a million chances (it was actually five, which is still a…