Jeff Attinella made a vital save on Sal Zizzo late in the match. (Steve Dykes/USA TODAY Sports)
PORTLAND, Ore. — His team playing its third game in seven nights and second in the row on the road, Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch realized he had to give his regulars a rest Friday night.
He made nine changes to his Starting XI from the home that won in the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup semifinals Tuesday night.
The Red Bulls put up a good fight, but could not generate much offense in a 2-0 loss to the 10-man Portland Timbers at Providence Park
Diego Valeri tallied the lone goal of the match in the 65th minute before Darren Mattocks gave the hosts some breathing room six minutes into stoppage time.
“I’m really proud of our group,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said,. “Thought we played really well, had the game on our terms and looked like our team. Playing so many new guys, to have them all understand their roles and play so well in a really tough place to play against a good team, a good attacking team that we kept at bay for most of the game,”
A throw-in to Diego Chara started the winning sequence. Chara bolted down the right wing before crossing the ball into the middle of Valeri, who drilled a shot to the lower left corner and out of the reach of goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Mattocks, a Jamaican international, scored only his second goal in 16 games to seal the game for the Timbers. Desperately needing a goal five minutes into injury time, the Red Bulls had a free kick. Robles came up to join in the attack, leaving the net unattended. The free kick was blocked and Portland countered quickly. With Robles striving to get back into position, Valeri found an open Mattocks, who fired it home to seal the Red Bulls’ fate.
Portland enjoyed the run of play in the opening 45 minutes, but couldn’t score, whether it was its inability to put the ball away or the Red Bulls’ ability to block shots or get in the way of the final pass.
Prior to the goal, U.S. international midfielder Darlington Nagbe had the best opportunity for the hosts in first half as he banged a shot from just outside the box off the crossbar.
On the other end of the pitch, the Red Bulls could not do anything with the likes of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan. They began the game on the bench as Marsch wanted to rest his regulars.
Kljestan finally entered the game in 67th minute as New York’s third and final substitute. That means BWP could not play. Marsch was forced to use a sub in the 27th minute, when Sean Davis came on for Aurelien Collin. Collin had a leg injury, according to FS1.
New York had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 81st minute after Portland’s Larrys Mabiala was sent off for fouling Gonzalo Veron just at the edge of the penalty area. On the ensuing free kick, newcomer and defender Fidel Escobar drilled his shot just wide left.
Kemar Lawrence flicked in a left-wing cross to defender Sal Zizzo, who headed the ball on net. Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made the save of the night, knocking the ball out of harm’s way in the 89th minute.
“Even though we lost this game, we should feel very positive,” midfielder Felipe said. “We have a really deep team and know we can call on any guy in this room.”
The Red Bulls next host New York City FC in the Hudson River Derby at Red Bull Arena Friday night.
