An evening filled with celebration and nostalgia for club legend Valeri saw Timbers earn important three points
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers’ important 3-2 win over visiting Columbus Crew SC marked an evening filled with celebration and nostalgia. The club inducted legend Diego Valeri into the Timbers Ring of Honor – the first player of the team’s MLS era to earn the honor – and Providence Park was packed with many looking to build off the feel-good vibes of one of the most popular Timbers players ever.
The match on the pitch didn’t disappoint.
Valeri saw former teammates Dairon Asprilla tally a first-half brace and Sebastián Blanco come off the bench to score the game-winner in the 80th minute. On a sweltering evening in the Rose City, the win showed resiliency and grit – both qualities Valeri so aptly personified in his nine-year career here.
For Blanco, who has been gradually building back from injuries and scored his first goal of the season, the win had a familiar feel.
“It was an old school win\]. Dairon scored, I scored, [\[Diego\] Chara got a yellow card,” he said with a knowing smirk. “Everyone contributed.”
Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese spoke after the match about how the energy in the stadium and the importance of Valeri’s night played a part in the way the team played on the field.
“One of the things that we spoke in the locker room was, ‘let's make those guys that have their name up there [on the Ring of Honor] proud today and the guys did,” he said. “I think it was a perfect day.”
At halftime, Valeri gave an emotional speech to the crowd, thanking them for helping make Portland another home for him and his family. He was welcomed into the Ring of Honor by all of the past honorees, including NASL greats Mick Hoban, John Bain, representatives for Jimmy Conway and Clive Charles, plus the illustrious Timber Jim.
Valeri was finishing his speech as many of the Timbers players were coming out on the field for the second half. They heard his words and, for Blanco, knew how important this evening was for their former teammate.
“I almost cried at halftime because it was very emotional for my friend and for his family,” said Blanco. “I know how the Timbers love Diego, and Diego also loves this club, this community.”
Valeri even found himself on the field after the match to help with the log ceremony. Asprilla, with two logs, gave one to his friend to lift in front of the Timbers Army faithful – not unlike many log ceremonies of seasons past with Valeri scoring goals with abandon.
"When [Valeri] played together with me, he was like a big brother," Asprilla said. "He listened to me every time when I had problems. Or helped organize my life...Maybe with this special win, he had a good moment for him and for the family.”
Savarese, who had coached Valeri to two MLS Western Conference trophies and an MLS is Back Tournament title and had welcomed Valeri back to the training field Friday as part of Valeri’s one-day contract to be able to retire as a Timber, knew what this evening meant to his former player.
“When you do the things that he's done here in Portland, when he created this history here, he has been a very important component of this club,” he said.
“He's Portland, not only Portland Timbers. He's Portland.”
