ORLANDO, Fla. — The Portland Timbers’ winter acquisition of Jaroslaw Niezgoda was about more than upgrading a position. When a Major League Soccer team expends a Designated Player spot – one of their scarce opportunities to transcend a squad’s salary restrictions – they don’t do so for mere depth. Signed while leading Poland’s top league in scoring, the 25-year-old Niezgoda was expected to compete for a starting spot, at the minimum.
After last Thursday’s performance, that competition is officially on. Seven minutes into his first start in MLS against Los Angeles FC in the MLS is Back Tournament, Niezgoda was put into space in front of LAFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.