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San Diego FC had plenty of the ball in Portland, but once again, possession did not translate into points.
What Happened on Wednesday?
SDFC controlled 65% of possession and completed 709 passes, more than twice Portland’s 304. They also put together 21 shots and recorded 45 touches inside the Timbers’ box. But the Timbers were far more efficient when its chances came.
One thing that SDFC had to watch out for was losing possession that transitioned into counterattacks. That's when the Timbers are the most dangerous.
Kristoffer Velde opened the scoring in the 29th minute after Portland caught SDFC on the counter. Gabriel Pirani responded just before halftime, scoring his first goal for San Diego in only his second start since joining the club in July. The goal came when SDFC played their style of soccer, quick one-two passes with lots of movement in and around the box – something fans haven't seen a lot of this season as compared to last.
The momentum didn't last.
Ariel Lassiter put Portland back ahead in the 51st minute when Dagur Dan Thorhalsson had a miscommunication with his teammates about picking up the overlap run that led to a tap in goal. David Da Costa added another 17 minutes later. Despite spending most of the night with the ball, SDFC couldn't find a way through.
Not Enough
That disconnect between possession and production was not lost on Mikey Varas.
“We have 70-percent of the ball, we have 45 touches in their box, and we don't score enough goals, and then we don't control the transitions well enough.”
Varas pointed specifically to turnovers and the team's response after losing possession as areas that need to improve.
“Too many turnovers that lead to big transitions, or lack of aggressiveness and intensity to stop the transitions.”
There were still some positives. Pirani continued to work his way into the lineup, while Elias Achouri made his second appearance for the club and Amahl Pellegrino returned for his second straight match after recovering from injury.
But with SDFC now sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference in 13th place at 6-8-5 and 24 points, the margin for error is getting smaller.
Despite the setback, SDFC remains three points out of playoff contention. As Varas put it, “every game becomes more expensive” with the playoff race tightening. And with Colorado coming to Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, SDFC will need to turn all that possession into something far more valuable: points.
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Colorado Rapids
San Diego FC will be looking for some revenge against Colorado after Loïc Williams scored a late stoppage-time winner the last time these two sides met.
This match feels like a must-win for San Diego, not only to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot but also for pride. SDFC will be playing in front of a conflicted crowd Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium after beating a tough team like LAFC but squandering points to Portland Timbers.
The Colorado Rapids enter Saturday's match against San Diego FC in solid form, collecting winning four of their last five games and climbing to seventh in the Western Conference.
Colorado has won four straight at home, including three consecutive 1-0 victories. The Rapids have been finding ways to win close games, relying on a disciplined defense and making the most of their chances.
The Navarro-Aaronson Connection
SDFC's biggest defensive challenge will be Rafael Navarro, who leads Colorado with 10 goals this season.
Navarro regularly drops into midfield to help build attacks before looking to get back into dangerous scoring positions. That movement could create problems for SDFC's center backs and defensive midfielders.
Behind him, Paxten Aaronson has become one of Colorado's most important creators. He leads the Rapids with six assists and has the ability to find pockets of space around the penalty area.
SDFC will need to be especially careful when Navarro drops deep. If a defender follows him too far, it could open space for Aaronson and Colorado's wingers to attack.
Can SDFC Break Them Down?
This could be where San Diego's possession-heavy style becomes important.
Colorado has been effective defensively, but the Rapids have also struggled at times to break down teams that sit deep.
SDFC cannot afford to give Navarro and Aaronson opportunities to attack an unsettled defense. At the same time, San Diego will need to move the ball quickly enough to prevent Colorado from getting comfortable in its defensive shape.
Anders Dreyer will be available after serving a red card suspension last game. It's safe to assume Mikey Varas will play close to the same lineup he used against LAFC as he rested many of the starters in Portland. Look for Elias Achouri to potentially make a start as well as the return of Luca Bombino and Oscar Verhoeven as wingbacks.
If SDFC wants to get back to their winning ways against a recently-hot team like the Rapids, they will need to be clinical in their attack, take advantage of the chances, and most of all – be creative with their possession. That creativity will make it hard for Colorado to defend the high possession that SDFC plays with.
