Portland Timbers @ Sporting Kansas City: 3 Takeaways From a Much Needed Draw

Halftime Adjustments Made All The Difference

The substitutions of Diego Chara for David Ayala, Felipe Mora for Santiago Moreno & Claudio Bravo for Juan Mosquera was just what the doctor ordered. Mosquera's attempts to play higher up the field often put pressure on the Timbers remaining defenders when he lost possession in the midfield. While Moreno began dribbling missions that often ended in turnovers instead of creating offensive opportunities.

While maybe the most important adjustment of all was the 38-year-old midfielder. Chara rarely disappoints & Sunday he transformed the midfield & consistently won the ball back while also stopping Sporting's advances on multiple occasions. It was his defense that kept the ball in enemy territory most of the second-half. Which gave Portland chances they didn't see in the first-half. With only 1 shot & 1 shot on goal during the first forty-five & 8 shots & 7 seven shots on goal in the latter.

Way To Stop the Bleeding

Not to many teams would have the mental energy down 3-0 in just the first half to come out & look at the second forty-five minutes as a clean slate like Portland did. It didn't look good at the half, as the team looked lazy on set pieces & lacked any real bite in their attack.

Road points are few & far between. Especially in a well supported venue like Children's Mercy Park. Portland has an extremely tough rest of April to get through. With two away games & matches against 2023 MLS Cup attendees LAFC (Twice) & the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. If there was anytime to turn things around, it was at Sporting Kansas City.

At the end of the day points are points & there is still plenty of soccer to play this season. But the squad looked entirely different in the second-half without their young South American talent on the field. Which is a different issue for a different day.