3-1 is a scoreline that normally doesn’t lie. I’m not going to say that the Timbers didn’t deserve to lose, they did, but it wasn’t a comprehensive lesson in soccer dealt by Minnesota. They had a plan: soak up pressure and spring counter-attacks. They executed.
On the first goal Moreira made the most half-hearted attempt to track back on a player who would obviously be clear through on goal if Minnesota were able to find an outlet. Villafaña, on the other hand, recognized the danger far too late and his efforts in tracking back were better but incredibly late.