One might say that Liam Ridgewell and Nat Borchers are the yin and yang of the Portland Timbers defense.
The two center backs â⬓ Borchers an MLS veteran and Ridgewell an English Premier League stalwart â⬓ compliment each other perfectly in their style of play on the field and stylistically off it.
But somewhere in there, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey has a role in forming one of the top defenses in the league.
ââ¬ÅFor me, heââ¬â¢s been one of our best defensive players because he plays with such a calm and a veteran presence and makes massive saves,â⬠Borchers said at the Timbers training facility following his teamââ¬â¢s 1-0 win Saturday over Real Salt Lake, which marked Kwaraseyââ¬â¢s league-leading 11th clean sheet.
Kwarasey may not have the flair of Borchersââ¬â¢ big, red beard or the vocal nature of Ridgewellââ¬â¢s leadership style.
In fact, heââ¬â¢s quite soft-spoken with the media and always deflects praise toward the entire team, but Kwarasey â⬓ signed over the offseason to replace two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Donovan Ricketts â⬓ is an equally big part of Portlandââ¬â¢s defensive success.
ââ¬ÅOf course itââ¬â¢s nice, but itââ¬â¢s a team thing,â⬠Kwarasey said of his clean-sheet haul. ââ¬ÅI think you can say, ââ¬ËOf course Iââ¬â¢m the one standing in the back there,ââ¬â¢ but Iââ¬â¢ll say the team leads in clean sheets this season. And hopefully we can continue to keep it clean at home and also get a couple clean sheets away.ââ¬
His importance has been especially true of late.
Heââ¬â¢s turned in three straight clean sheets and come up with some of the more spectacular saves in his time in the Rose City in that stretch.
Against RSL, he helped Portland withstand a first-half onslaught with an outstretched leaping save on Luke Mulholland, an effort that is up for Week 24 Save of the Week.
Two weeks ago in a scoreless draw on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes, Kwarasey stoned Chris Wondolowski on an early golden chance to set the tone for the defensive performance.
ââ¬ÅThe save against Luke Mulholland was just world class, so weââ¬â¢re fortunate to have him back there, and heââ¬â¢s been a big part of why weââ¬â¢ve been so good recently and during the season defensively,â⬠Borchers said.
Kwarasey doesnââ¬â¢t always have a lot to do â⬓ heââ¬â¢s ninth in the league with 61 saves â⬓ but his goals against average of 1.04 is tied for third among starters.
That, along with his ability to play the ball, has made the Ghanaian internationalââ¬â¢s acquisition from Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Tippeligaen a welcome addition to the Timbers defense â⬓ one that is growing in confidence and comfort level as the season progresses.
ââ¬ÅIt feels like Iââ¬â¢m still learning every week, and Iââ¬â¢m coming to different stadiums every having different experiences,â⬠Kwarasey said. ââ¬ÅIt feels more like this is my team and the league Iââ¬â¢m playing in right now than it did when I just got here, so Iââ¬â¢m getting more comfortable.ââ¬