NYCFC: Three Things We Learned Against the Portland Timbers

Thanks to a questionable no call that led to a Diego Valeri goal, New York City FC suffered a tough-luck 1-0 defeat at the hands of the visiting Portland Timbers.

Unlike Wednesday evening’s win over Sporting Kansas City, the Boys in Blue were unable to earn a much-needed win over the visiting Portland Timbers Saturday night thanks to an Andrea Pirlo gaffe that led to the only goal on the day. It was an incredibly disappointing defeat, but there were several things we learned about the club that gives us a good feel for how NYCFC will fare going forward.

SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 04: Goalkeeper Sean Johnson (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Sean Johnson is Capable of Stepping Up in Big Moments

Many pundits will be talking about Pirlo’s mistake when they review this match. However, Sean Johnson’s stellar performance Saturday night shouldn’t be overshadowed by the Italian international’s costly error. The U.S. International was quick off his line, strong in the air, and distributed the ball well on restarts.

Even after the Timbers scored the lone goal of the match, Johnson didn’t seem phased at all. New York’s keeper made save, after save, after clutch save to single-handedly keep NYCFC’s chances of salvaging a draw alive until the very end. Diego Valeri may have taken home Man of the Match honors, but Johnson would have easily earned that award if the match ended in a draw at least.

BRIDGEVIEW, IL – MARCH 06: Thomas McNamara (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Alexander Ring and Yangel Herrera Need to Get Healthy

Alexander Ring and Yangel Herrera have been constant fixtures in the starting XI this season because of their strong defensive work rate and ability to mop things up in the midfield. Unfortunately, both players were unavailable against the Timbers due to injury and the team’s performance consequently suffered without them on the field.

Timbers midfielders ran free through the midfield and there was little that the NYCFC’s midfield trio of Tommy McNamara, Rodney Wallace, and Andrea Pirlo could do to stop them. If NYCFC wants to finish the season strong and keep their second place standing in the Eastern Conference, Herrera and Ring need to get healthy and back on the pitch as soon as possible.

TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 30: Benoit Cheyrou (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

The Supporters Shield is Officially Out of Reach

As painful as it is to say, it’s time to put the Supporters Shield hopes on ice for the season. NYCFC came into the match just six points behind league leaders Toronto FC but failed to keep pace with their conference rivals after the Reds earned yet another win with their 4-0 thrashing of the San Jose Earthquakes.

With a 17-8-3 record, Toronto now sits a commanding nine points clear of the Boys in Blue with only six matches left to play in the season. Unless Toronto slips up hard and begins to collapse in the most epic of fashions, the Supporters Shield might as well be on its way to Canada right now.

Notes:

Up Next: Colorado Rapids, 9/16, 9:00 pm ET Kick

The Colorado Rapids just might be what NYCFC needs right now. Colorado currently sits at the bottom of the Western Conference table and they barely have a winning record at home this season. Road matches are always tough, especially when they’re halfway across the country, but the Rapids will provide the Boys in Blue with a great opportunity to get back to their winning ways.

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