2013 MLS – Portland at Colorado

By CarlAuer
|
March 31, 2013
| No Comments

So after Snowpocalypse last weekend, I headed back to Commerce City to photograph the Portland Timbers as they took on the Colorado Rapids.  There was a rumor of thunderstorms, so I was not really looking forward to the game, after sitting through a snow storm.  But after getting to the stadium, the weather looked pretty good.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - A general view of the pitch at Dick's Sporting Goods Park prior to the start of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – A general view of the pitch at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park prior to the start of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

But, then about the time the game started, the clouds really rolled in and the winds started blowing pretty good.  There were times during the game that a ball would be kicked in the air and you never knew which way it would go as the wind caught it.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Colorado Rapids defender Marvell Wynne (22) chases after a ball during the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids defender Marvell Wynne (22) chases after a ball during the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

I set up in my normal spot, but immediately had to move because the TV guy had to stand right in front of all of the photographers.  It would not have been too bad if his cable puller would have stayed back some and not stood 5 feet from him blocking the entire view in front of the goal.  So I moved to the other side of the goal, only to be berated by a drunk fan until he got removed.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan (11) and Portland Timbers forward Ryan Johnson (9) both attempt to head the ball in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan (11) and Portland Timbers forward Ryan Johnson (9) both attempt to head the ball in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

Even with the drunk fan behind me, I was having a great game.  My focus was spot on, and things were just falling into place.  The Rapids scored the only goal in the first half taking a 1 – 0 lead into halftime.  I headed up to the media room and transmitted my photos from the first half.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) attempts to cross the ball in front of the Rapids goal in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) attempts to cross the ball in front of the Rapids goal in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

When I came down for the second half, the weather had changed.  It got colder and windier.  There is a landfill or something upwind from the stadium and the smell was horrible.  But, down on the field level, the smell did not make it down there.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson (4) turns for a shot attempt past Colorado Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca (2) in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson (4) turns for a shot attempt past Colorado Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca (2) in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

The Rapids took a 2-0 lead in the second half on a penalty kick and it looked like those Burgundy Boys were going to get their first win of the season.  It looked good for Colorado.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) receives a pass in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) receives a pass in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

In the second half I was still getting nice sharp images.  It was really nice to see that it was not raining, the light was good and I was not fighting focus issues.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Portland Timbers forward Ryan Johnson (9) attempts to keep the ball away from Colorado Rapids defender Chris Klute (15) in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Portland Timbers forward Ryan Johnson (9) attempts to keep the ball away from Colorado Rapids defender Chris Klute (15) in the first half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

I tried something new for this game too.  When the game was just beginning, and part of the field was in shade, I switched my 7D over to Auto ISO and was pleasantly surprised at the results.  It stayed between around ISO 200 and 800 for most of the game.  Kind of nice since I had never used it before and I was able to keep the shutter speed to the level I needed.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Colorado Rapids midfielder Tony Cascio (14) attempts to get past the defense by Portland Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (1) in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids midfielder Tony Cascio (14) attempts to get past the defense by Portland Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (1) in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

Unfortunately the Rapids were not have as good a game in the second half.  They gave up a goal in the second half so the Timbers now trailed the Rapids by one.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - After a penalty in the goal box, Colorado Rapids midfielder Hendry Thomas (12) scores on a penalty kick in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – After a penalty in the goal box, Colorado Rapids midfielder Hendry Thomas (12) scores on a penalty kick in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

Then the Timbers got their own penalty kick and tied the game up.  So with the game knotted up at 2-2 the Rapids were trying very hard to get that go ahead goal, but it just did not happen.  The Rapids and Timbers ended the game 2-2.

March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO - Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown (26) and Portland Timbers defender David Horst (12) chase after the ball in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)
March 30th, 2013 Commerce City, CO – Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown (26) and Portland Timbers defender David Horst (12) chase after the ball in the second half of the MLS match between the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO (Carl Auer/Newsport)

The photos above are available for media use from Newsport Photo through Corbis Photos.

 

 

Share Button
Sports