What We're Reading
Spencer fumes at Portland's U.S. Cup loss
- Portland Tribune, Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:23 PM
How could Cal FC, an amateur adult club team coached by Eric Wynalda, have beaten the MLS Timbers 1-0 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup?
“I don’t think
there’s any explaining it,” Portland coach John Spencer told Stephen Alexander. "I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in
a game playing or coaching where we’ve been beaten by an amateur team. I’m bitterly disappointed. You don’t use the word ‘embarrassed’ or ‘humiliated’ too
much in your career. Tonight I felt both.”
In the 88th minute, with the score tied 0-0, the Timbers Army began chanting, “Care like we do.” Before the first 15-minute half
of overtime, the Army fell silent and a lone bugle played the military funeral song “Taps." When Portland went down on a goal in the 95th minute, the fans began chanting, “You call this
MLS?”
“We worked hard,” Spencer said. “I don’t think we never worked hard enough. Our finishing was dreadful. When you have 40 shots and 39 miss the target,
it’s unacceptable. You put the ball into the Timbers Army, you ain’t going to score a goal.”
