PORTLAND, Ore. – His notes of influence were all over the Portland Timbers’ gameplan, but that was nothing new. For the team’s can’t-lose season finale on Sunday against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes, Portland head coach Giovanni Savarese and his staff had installed a defensive trap which, if it worked, would demand right back Jorge Moreira’s execution.
That's not uncommon for a fullback in high-level soccer, particularly for teams that want to press high up the field. As forwards push possession to the flanks and midfielders prevent passes from going back to the middle of the field, it's often the fullbacks, matched up against attacking players, who define the point of attack.