1. Frustration unleashed

Darlington Nagbe and Kalif Alhassan were the only players on the pitch for the Portland Timbers for Wednesday night’s game against the Wilmington Hammerheads who also were on the pitch a year ago for the infamous Cal FC debacle. It is safe to say that the bulk of the players in green and white were not out to avenge past U.S. Open Cup futility, but for those who have suffered in the stands the beat down the Timbers put on Wilmington helped (a bit) to release years of frustration. It couldn’t have been scripted better. An early goal followed by a pile of goals left little doubt about the game’s outcome for the bulk of the evening. The game gave Caleb Porter an opportunity to rest some of his key players and to evaluate some of the guys who have been on the fringe of the starting XI. There were no injuries and Seattle lost, which brings another USOC match against a lower division side to Portland in a couple of weeks. The difference a year makes, and all that jazz. Continue reading →