It took just 10 minutes to see that matches involving the Portland Timbers, under new coach Caleb Porter and a whole new style, would be infinitely more watchable than before.
The atmosphere was always lovely, of course. Now there’s eye-pleasing soccer to match the atmospheric aesthetic, with higher pressure, overlapping fullbacks, quicker passing. And Diego Valeri! He’s going to be something for the Timbers.
Not to mention that wider field (two yards on either side, four yards total, all of which helps more than you might think).
And what a match! Truly, the Timbers’ 3-3 draw with New York on Sunday from Jeld-Wen Field (sold out for a 35th consecutive time) proved wildly entertaining.
(MORE: Notes on the match from Richard Farley)
The full highlights are here – and they are splendid:
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Chelis increasingly sounds like a man broken by Chivas USA
May 20, 2013, 8:13 PM EDT
Our sympathy continues to grow for a man in a bad spot.
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Brighton & Hove Albion formally apologize to Crystal Palace over ‘excrement’ incident
May 20, 2013, 7:21 PM EDT
MLS will not have arrived until it has a high-profile feces incident.
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Get ready for an interminal summer of Neymar-to-Barcelona talk
May 20, 2013, 6:40 PM EDT
It probably won’t happen this summer, and if it does … I’m sure we’ll run that into the ground, too.
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Silvio Berlusconi says he hasn’t fired Maximiliano Allegri. Yet.
May 20, 2013, 5:45 PM EDT
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For a moment, it looked like Milan had fired their coaching staff … via an open letter from a television show.
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Real Madrid won’t get any compensation from Chelsea for José Mourinho
May 20, 2013, 4:55 PM EDT
Real Madrid would have been in line for an eight-digit payday had they sold Mourinho to Chelsea.
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Klinsmann to replace Moyes at Everton? UK bookmakers slash odds
May 20, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT
Reuters
Odds on current U.S. Men’s National Team boss Jurgen Klinsmann to become Everton’s next permanent manager have dropped heavily today.
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ProSoccerTalk’s MLS Player of the Week: New York Red Bulls’ Jamison Olave
May 20, 2013, 3:45 PM EDT
Wherein we justify the selection of a center back, which always seems to be a requirement in these things:
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Sky Blue FC validates, Ali Krieger resonates, and four teams start to feel the toll of the new season.
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What’s been coming for a long time is now official. Jose Mourinho’s three-year tenure at Real Madrid has a finish line.
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Ben Olsen? Frank Klopas? … Someone else?
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The big, soon-to-be out of contract Galaxy center backs says talks with MLS commenced:
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That’s sarcasm. Ruiz was always bound to cause headaches, one way or the other:
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The first-year Red Bulls center back made a huge imprint on New York’s win over Los Angeles:
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There is still plenty of star appeal as the Europa League champs’ roster for a quick two-game tour of the United States:
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Kljestan becomes the fifth American to defend a title in a top league:
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The Scottish striker will hardly be missed around Vancouver:
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Sporting K.C. makes it clear after blown call – “I scored the goal”
May 19, 2013, 10:00 PM EDT
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Sporting K.C. manager Peter Vermes and defender Ike Opera didn’t appreciate the pivotal offsides call that disallowed a possible winning goal against D.C. United, and they made that very obvious.
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Premier League managerial pair blast squad and referee following final match
May 19, 2013, 8:58 PM EDT
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Paolo Di Canio and Andre Villas-Boas took to the media following their teams’ Premier League finale to voice displeasure with how their final fixture played out.
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D.C. United rue own goal but end losing streak against Sporting KC
May 19, 2013, 7:51 PM EDT
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A dull, scoreless first half picked up in the second term as D.C. United grabbed a point against the league’s second-best team and ended their club-record losing streak at 7 matches.
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Carlo Ancelotti denied release from PSG as he looks to Real Madrid job
May 19, 2013, 5:50 PM EDT
Reuters
With his eye on the imminent vacancy at Real Madrid left by Jose Mourinho’s almost certain departure, Paris Saint-Germain’s mastermind Carlo Ancelotti may now have a large hurdle to get past if he is to land his ideal job in Spain’s capital.
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Video: Highlights: Union outlast Fire
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Video: Sir Alex says goodbye
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Video: Morgan committed to growth of new women's league
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Video: Boy with cancer, 8, scores against major league soccer team
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Video: Red Bulls pull off win on the road
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Video: Highlights: Montreal extinguish Chicago
