Timbers ahead for good in the second half, scoring on an assist from Diego Chara. Photo by Miles Sanguinetti.
Continuing a theme for the club this year, on Saturday the Portland Timbers managed to claw their way back into a game yet again, tallying a big road win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. The win stretches Portland’s unbeaten streak to six, with the Timbers earning victories in three of their last four matches and jumping back up to the No. 3 spot in the MLS Western Conference.
The match started with a bang and sent the Timbers reeling as Kansas City’s Chance Myers recorded the first goal of his career just 42 seconds into the contest on a header from a deep sideline throw. The Timbers regrouped, however, and went on the attack, nearly getting the equalizer in the fourth minute as Diego Valeri’s shot bounced off the crossbar and was cleared away by a Sporting defender.
In the 24th minute, Portland was able to break through. Darlington Nagbe stole the ball and threaded a perfect pass to Rodney Wallace, who booted a deep shot that Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was able to deflect with a diving save. The blocked shot flew out of bounds and the Timbers earned a corner kick, which was placed perfectly into the middle, and Ryan Johnson headed the ball into the left side of the goal to even the score at one-all.
The Sporting squad was quick to reply. Myers got his second goal in the 29th minute when he ended up with the ball about six yards out and put it right past Timbers goalie
Donovan Ricketts, who guessed wrong on the shot and left a gap open for the score.
In an effort to even the match in the 32nd minute, Valeri bet on Johnson’s speed as he put a ball out in front of the darting forward. Johnson outpaced his defender and Nielsen advanced against him, but Nagbe was also unmarked and approaching fast. Johnson sent a quick pass over to Nagbe, who netted an easy goal to tie the game.
After being down twice in the first half, the Timbers were able to maintain their focus and scored the go-ahead goal in the 58th minute when Diego Chara came up with a steal and fired a pass to a breaking Wallace, who waited for Nielsen to make his move on the ball and then directed it around the diving goalie. The Wizards had many opportunities to even the match, but Ricketts and the Timbers defense held their ground and walked away with the victory.
Portland will have a quick turnaround for their next game, as they get ready to take on the New England Revolution at Jeld-Wen Field on May 2 at 7:30 p.m.