Timbers vs. Fire — High-Pitched Live Blog Action

We’re a little more than a half-hour from first kick here at Jeld-Wen Field (aka the House of Pane) and as you can see, the Timbers Army is out in full force, packing their sections and chanting like maniacs. Fitting.

I’m snug up in the press box, watching through new some snazzy new windows (Solar Innovation? WTF?) and will be live-blogging this historic event as it happens. Boot yourself past the jump to kick it with me for 90+ minutes of commentary, some lame soccer jokes and occasional insight.

Pregame: I rolled up about 90 minutes before first kick and the scene outside the House of Pane was wild. The Max train that skated into 18th and Morrison was packed to the brim, and scalpers mixed with scarf-clad hordes while festive fans led chants. It’s raining (gasp!), but that’s hardly dampening anyone’s spirits.

30 minutes to first kick: OK, so the press box is swaying. I just saw fear in (O beat-writer) Geoffrey C. Arnold’s eyes, which is never a good sign (I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean, but OK). Teams are on the field now, with the Timbers on the north end and Chicago on the south side. The rain continues to fall, but again, I don’t think anyone cares. Certainly not members of press row, who are so full of complimentary shrimp right now they’ll die happy should this whole thing collapse.

18 minutes to first kick: Your lineups.
For Portland — Gleeson in goal, Cooper and Perlaza up front, Alhassan, Marcelin, Jewsbury and Hall at mid, Wallace, Danso, Brunner and Purdy on D.
For Chicago — Johnson in goal, Puerari and Chaves up front, Videira, Nyarko, Pause and Pappa at mid, Segares, Gibbs, Robinson and Anibaba on D.

5 minutes to kick: Gleeson in the baby blues that he wore during his clean-sheet performance against Chivas. Timbers in green jerseys and white shorts. “Futty” Danso making his first MLS start. Not a bad match to debut in.

And… we’re underway. National anthem went swimmingly and sounded pretty raucous from the field. (did that transfer over to TV?) TA raised three banners above their sections just before first kick. I’ll have photos at the half.

9th minute — I notice a number of (non-keeper) Chicago players are wearing gloves. Pussies. Anyone need an umbrella?

10th minute — Timbers get their first real chance when Cooper shows some fancy footwork on the sideline.

11th minute — A goal (!) on a corner kick called off. Keeper impeded? Cooper headed it in the net, and is naturally quite unhappy with the call. Official call was that the corner went over the end-line, which means its dead. The place went nuts, but prematurely. Still, the Timbers have some nice momentum to start here and have the Fire on their toes. Inches away from their first MLS lead.

15th minute — Things are getting chippy after Cooper gets tripped. Timbers earn a free kick and Chicago’s Gonzalo Segares earns the first yellow of the match. Fire are getting fiery with the official, crowding around him and complaining about a non-call.

23rd minute — A lazy pass gives the Fire a steal and a chance, but Gleeson aggressively comes out and takes care of the ensuing cross. Early defensive lapses have cost the Timbers all season. This time, they’re fortunate.

29th minute — Alhassan to Perlaza… GOAL! The first goal at Jeld-Wen Field *The Glass Painagerie* scored by 26-year-old Colombian Jorge Perlaza. Chicago defender Cory Gibbs being gingerly walked off the field while Timber Joey slices the first round of the season. Chicago a man down.

33rd minute — Portland Timbers, welcome to your first MLS lead. Uncharted territory.

35th minute — Gibbs back in with a bandage wrapped around his head. Looks like a Gerald-Wallace-approved headband, but less cool.

37th minute — Now Gibbs gets a yellow card in the Fire’s own corner. Rough night for No. 5.

38th minute — Rodney Wallace GOAL! 2-0 Timbers. Unassisted off a corner kick. He picked it clean out of the air and blasted it from 22 yards out into the lower right corner. And now, the two Timbers who perhaps struggled the most in the early part of the season (Wallace and Perlaza) have the first two goals in J-WF history.

43rd minute — BTW, was just told MLS commish Don Garber will be available at half for interviews. Anyone have any questions for the man?

45 minutes — Three minutes of injury time.

Aaaaaand, we’re at the half. Timbers get three two goals and this place is pretty much going nuts. A 2-0 lead at the half is about as perfect a start the team and its fans could ask for. Now it’s a matter of holding tight and preserving a first MLS victory and a huge win in their inaugural home match.

The Timbers, by the way, just unveiled two more names in their “Ring of Honor.” Jimmy Conway and John Bain (stars of the team’s NASL era) join Clive Charles and Timber Jim high atop the rafters.

46th minute — We’re back at it. My photos, it turns out, pretty much sucked, but I did nab a couple of videos I’ll post later.

48th minute — Perlaza AGAIN! 3-0 Timbers. Unassisted, off a misplayed cross right in front of the net. Man of the match? Uh, yeah.

50th minute — Alhassan has a great look at one from the left side, but it sails over the crossbar. Chicago keeper Sean Johnson can not be enjoying himself in the north end. His ears are probably ringing and his pride is definitely hurting.

57th minute — I love watching football players writhe around in fake pain. It’s about as entertaining as it gets, especially when they come bounding back on the field 30 seconds later.

59th minute — A nice stat via the crack Timbers FC staff: The Timbers entered tonight’s game with 2 goals in 270 minutes on the road. They’ve scored three goals inside an hour tonight. Home pitch advantage much?

Also in the 59th minute — Gleeson gets his first save of the night when Chicago’s Dominic Uduro breaks free. The Timber defense has stepped up in this match. Big time. I’m sure the rookie appreciates it.

66th minute — Marco Pappa gets Chicago on the scoreboard with a nice left-footed touch past a diving Gleeson. BUT … it goes down in the books as an own-goal by Timbers’ Eric Brunner, so yeah, Portland’s still scored every goal tonight. Still 3-1 Timbers, but smooth-sailing mode is officially switched off.

68th minute — Zizzo enters for Hall. His second appearance in four games. He played 24 minutes before being injured at Toronto.

77th minute — Eddie Johnson entering for Perlaza. What a night for the forward, who gets a huge ovation from the crowd. Nearly had the hat trick, but definitely showed he’s much better than the player who suited up for the first three games. Maybe yesterday’s signing of his fellow countryman Diego Chará lit a fire under him?

81st minute — Pappa gets his goal. And uh-oh, nervous time here as Chicago makes it 3-2.

83rd minute — Darlington Nagbe in for Alhassan. The home crowd’s first look at the Timbers first-ever SuperDraft pick.

84th minute — Timbers GOAL! 4-2. A big scrum in front of the net. Bodies everywhere. We’ll see who gets the credit. Mamadou “Futty” Danso gets the unassisted goal in his MLS debut. And the crowd breathes a sigh of relief. This one’s all but out of reach.

88th minute — TA singing “Falling In Love With You.” How sweet.

90th minute — Three minutes of stoppage time. Three minutes until Portland’s first-ever MLS win.

And that’ll do it. Pyrotechnics are flying as Portland wins 4-2 behind two goals from Jorge Perlaza in just the third six-goal match of the MLS season. I’m heading down to the press room to grab some sound, but I believe a pint at the Bitter End is also in my future. I’ll of course have a re-cap tomorrow with more thoughts, sights and sound. Thanks for hanging with me. What a way to kick things off at home.