I remember watching the Portland Timbers take on Sporting Kansas City around this time in 2011. We were down 2-0, and the first half hadn’t even ended.
Bummer.
My mind was already starting to wander towards what kind of snack I’d get at half time. Let’s be honest; we’ve all been there.
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But then there was a free kick awarded for the Timbers in a dangerous location before the stroke of half time.
SKC’s keeper came out and cleared the ball outside of the 18-yard box. Without hitting the ground, the ball came to our 2011 2nd overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Darlington Nagbe.
With a deft touch, Nagbe juggled the ball twice before taking a clean swipe at the ball with the outside of his right foot. The ball sailed into the top left corner.
Nagbe had arrived.
Just to clarify, from the moment the ball left the foot of Jewsbury (he took the free kick), the ball didn’t touch the ground again until it slid down the back of the net.
The goal went on to win the 2011 MLS goal of the year.
Let that sink in.
Have you ever experienced watching an audacious player on the field and just hoped that your club team is going to pick him up in the following transfer window? That’s how I felt, except Nagbe played for us already.
Sweet.
Since then, Nagbe has been a hidden gem for the Portland Timbers in the Pacific Northwest. He couldn’t have asked for a better place to have his game develop away from the scrutiny of other major cities; instead developing under the shade of the plentiful and tranquil Douglas-fir trees of Oregon.
Last season under the eye of Caleb Porter, Porter was able to unlock a tactical triangle in his midfield allowing Nagbe to reach a roll of a ‘complete midfielder’ for the Timbers.
The soccer world was starting to pay more attention to Nagbe and this year he was technically given an opportunity with the USMNT. He even dawned the legendary #10 jersey for the USMNT, the host nation in the all historically important Copa América.
However, he was not given the minutes or the confidence from Klinsmann to prove just how invaluable he could be.
The USMNT now has in their arsenal, for the first time in the history of soccer in this country, a player that is genuinely versatile and skilled enough to play as a complete midfielder, ‘enganche’, or #10 role. Claudio Reyna was the closest ever to achieve this.
It’s frustrating, to say the least, but Klinsmann, unfortunately, calls the shots.
With Nagbe returning to Portland from a disappointing Copa América campaign, Nagbe, and the Portland Timbers must put all of that behind them and continue to climb the table in the MLS Western Conference.
Since the Timber’s 4-2 defeat of the Whitecaps in the ‘Cascadia Cup’, Portland remains undefeated in league competition. The victory against the Whitecaps was their 13th game of the season. That’s the same amount of games it took Portland last season to snap out of their ugly form and separate themselves from the competition by winning six out of their following seven games.
They’ve won two and tied two since the Cascadia Cup game, but they’ve had to do so without Darlington Nagbe for the entire four games.
But with the MLS season to pick up again, and many points still up for grabs, the Timbers may not be able to mimic their run of last season, especially with a lack of depth in the squad.
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Fortunately, here comes Nagbe and Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers are more than happy to utilize Nagbe in their midfield if the USMNT isn’t going to.
RCTID