The first round of this year’s MLS postseason is in the books, and this column’s schtick is self-explanatory. Onwards!
1. Tyler Heaps called his shot
You won’t find many folks around MLS who will give you a smarter, more insightful quote than Tyler Heaps — not least because you won’t find many smarter, more insightful people than Heaps. San Diego FC’s front office chief had this to say about the Timbers’ incredibly aggressive defensive approach in Portland’s nervy victory over the expansion club in Game 2 of their opening round playoff series:
“What Phil [Neville] did on the weekend was, in my opinion, suicidal,” Heaps told MLSsoccer.com. “Yes, it worked, but going 1-v-1 all over the field, there's moments in that game where they’re 1-v-2 at the back, and I feel like we're always one pass away from a breakaway, but we just weren't sharp enough on the day, and that's on us.”
Neville, even with tweaked personnel, went back to the well when it came to man-to-man, 1-v-1 pressing in Sunday’s Game 3 between Portland and San Diego. And as it turns out? Heaps was right. When given a second bite of the apple, the hosts ripped Neville’s aggressive, man-oriented approach to shreds in a 4-0 win. See for yourself:
