BEAVERTON, Ore. — At times this season it seemed from the outside that Fanendo Adi’s place with the Portland Timbers was shaky.
Sure, the Nigerian striker is the club’s leading scorer — by far. But a stretch of 10 appearances that included only one goal in the run of play, combined with the addition of Lucas Melano, raised questions about Adi’s role.
Adi has said he never lost confidence despite some missed opportunities and some time on the bench.
On Saturday in Columbus, Adi scored both Timbers goals in a 2-1 win at Columbus that keeps Portland a step ahead of San Jose in the battle for a playoff spot. Adi’s 12 goals this season is a Timbers MLS-era record.
Coach Caleb Porter said he never lost faith in the 6-foot-4 forward. In fact, Porter said Adi is probably the Timbers player who has improved the most over the last three seasons. But the coach did challenge the 24-year-old.
“I had a hard conversation with him ahead of the (Sept. 20) New York game,” Porter said.
The gist of the message: Adi was playing well, but had to start finishing his chances.
Adi did not start that day against the Red Bulls. In 34 minutes off the bench he took four shots, but the Timbers failed to score a goal.
Back in the starting lineup at Columbus, Adi delivered on a chance in the first half, then showed his hunger by hustling to score a counter-attack goal shortly after halftime. It was the fourth time this season, and eighth time in two years with the Timbers, that Adi has scored two goals in a game.
Adi said Darlington Nagbe, who set up Adi’s first goal with a nifty pass, told him before Saturday’s match that if Adi scored one goal he would score another — “So when I got the first one, he told me the second one was coming.”
Porter said Adi needed to learn how to use his strength to help the team in many different ways.
“I don’t think before he came (to Portland) he knew all of the little things that he needed to do,” Porter said. “Everybody knows as a striker you’ve got to score. But you’ve got to bring a lot more than that. You have to bring defending, you have to bring hold-up play, you have to bring presence on set pieces. You have to be a team player.
“He’s evolved in every aspect we’ve asked him to evolve in.”
Adi said it took time — and reminders from Timbers coaches — to understand that he needed to stand up against physical play from opposing defenders, that falling to the turf and expecting a referee to whistle a foul wasn’t going to get him anywhere.
“It’s tough playing against very good defenders … but it’s a style of play I need to play for the team to win, so holding the ball up is something that I learned, and learning to stay (standing) up,” Adi said. “The way we want to attack, we want to hold the ball and let the other guys join in” the attack.
With 31 goals in 30 matches, the Timbers attack has been uncharacterisically unproductive this season. With his team’s playoff fate down to the last four regular-season games, Porter is counting on Adi to deliver more performances like Saturday’s.
“Down the stretch here, he’s going to be huge,” Porter said. “He’s going to be critical, his production and being that spearhead” to the attack.
