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Gleeson Shines as Timbers Take Big Victory

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/02/16, 11:31AM EDT

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Former USL champion earned plaudits as Portland downed Toronto


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. – When it was over, there was little doubt as to what Portland Timbers center back Nat Borchers thought of goalkeeper Jake Gleeson’s performance in a 2-1 win against Toronto FC, as he jumped into his arms in celebration.

“I told him, ‘That was all you, bud.’ He stepped up for us today,” Borchers told reporters after the game at Providence Park. “If it wasn’t for his performance, we don’t get out of here with three points. Jake stood on his head today, let’s be honest. He had a fantastic game. We needed some big-time performances from guys to get three points.”

Gleeson, a 2014 USL champion on loan with Sacramento Republic FC, put in a spectacular performance on Sunday afternoon as his four saves preserved the Timbers’ lead late on. Coupled with a brilliant free kick by birthday boy Diego Valeri, Portland took its third win of the season in front of a raucous crowd on ESPN.


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Timbers

After making a combined 40 appearances in the USL regular season and playoffs for Sacramento in 2014 and the Portland Timbers 2 last season, Gleeson had already shown the growth in his game when he was called upon in the Timbers’ run to the 2015 MLS Cup. Stepping in for regular starter Adam Kwarasey, who was sidelined by illness, Gleeson recorded a shutout in the Timbers’ 0-0 draw with Vancouver in the conference semifinals.

For his part, Gleeson was as appreciative of his back four as they were of him following Sunday’s game.

“It was one of those games where you were under pressure a lot of the time,” Gleeson said. “I thought the defense was phenomenal. I think having Ridgy [Liam Ridgewell] back in there was a different level. He and Nat [Borchers] were unbelievable. I had a couple things to do and I thought I was lucky on a few situations to be at the right place at the right time, so I’ll take that and move forward.”

After a big save on Michael Bradley minutes after Valeri gave the Timbers the lead, and a stoppage-time denial of Will Johnson, though, neither he nor Coach Caleb Porter was prepared to get ahead of themselves as to what his performance meant in the long term.

“Obviously [Jake Gleeson] made a couple saves,” said Porter. “It’s his job to do that. Like I told him, even though those are very good saves, that should be routine. We all look at [Nick] Rimando’s double save [for Real Salt Lake on Saturday]. He’s probably done that 20 times. So, as much as you look at that and say ‘wow. Those are good saves.’ He’s done that time and time again. Can Jake now put in routine performances where he comes up with a couple big saves a game like that?”