Portland Timbers: Sebastian Blanco brilliance unreliable

Sebastian Blanco produced a moment of utter sublime play to rescue a point for the Portland Timbers against FC Dallas on Saturday. However, the diminutive winger’s brilliance is unreliable to sustain the Timbers’ attack for a full season.

It has not been a good start to the new MLS season for the Portland Timbers. They made the playoffs last season, eventually falling foul to Houston Dynamo in the Conference Semi-Finals, and were hoping to improve ahead of this season as they looked to mount another title challenge.

However, the early goings were not quite as smooth as anticipated. Certainly, opening the year with three road games does not help. Added to that, they faced a much-revitalised LA Galaxy to start the year, an ever-strong and consistent New York Red Bulls, and a typically fast-starting FC Dallas. Not the easy slate that they may have been hoping for.

Nevertheless, in the build-up to Saturday’s trip to Dallas, much of the focus centred on their reflecting and recovering from a shock four-goal hammering at the hands of the Red Bulls. It was somewhat humiliating for Giovanni Savarese, who spoke of his side’s back-to-the-drawing-board attitude in the week. It worked.

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While the Timbers were far from their fluid best, there were glimpses of the shoots of recovery. Defensively, they were solid and stable, rarely unlocked by the Dallas forward line, in possession, they were neat and tidy, if lacking the real spark in the final third, and they looked like a far more cohesive, connected, and understanding unit.

Nevertheless, the precious point that they returned home with, their first of the season, was only in their back pockets thanks to the brilliance Sebastian Blanco. Now, it was a brilliant goal. Moments after half-time, receiving the ball in space on the right wing, Blanco darted inside, unchecked by the Dallas defence, and unfurled a lovely, curling strike that bent into the far corner with beautiful precision.

For the Timbers, it was an invaluable moment, a cherished piece of play that perhaps breathed life back into their quickly rotting season. The confidence visibly seeped back through the team. Their passes had a little more fizz. Their touch was that bit sharper. Their play bubbled, rather than bumbled.

But the Timbers cannot rely on Blanco’s brilliance to continue to rescue them throughout the season. That is not to say that diminutive winger is incapable of replicating moments like this. He has proven in his short MLS career up until this point that he most certainly is. But a team is made up of more than one player. 2017 MVP Diego Valeri, for instance, needs to rediscover his form of yesteryear; Fanendo Adi must impress himself with a greater influence as the spearhead of the attack.

This is a team of great attacking potential with a sound defence, at least on Saturday’s showing. But those moments of quality that can change games are only coming from one source — no other Timbers player has scored this season.

Next: FC Dallas Vs Portland Timbers: 3 things we learned

For the long and arduous MLS campaign that is before them, it is unsustainable for a Portland Timbers team hoping to better their postseason disappoints a year ago.

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