Timbers tame Rapids to earn share of 1st place

The Portland Timbers took to the pitch on Sunday for their second meeting with the Colorado Rapids this season. After a 2-2 draw back on March 30 in Colorado, the Timbers got a chance to better that result with their home fans behind them at Jeld-Wen Field. Portland was riding a 14-game unbeaten streak and coming off a draw with the back-to-back MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy. That result lifted the Timbers into a tie for the second spot in the Western Conference, but the team was clearly hungry for more as they took down the Rapids 3-0 and made it 15 unbeaten in a row to move into a tie with Real Salt Lake for first place overall in the MLS standings.

As anticipated, the Timbers Army greeted the Rapids to the turf with a shower of boos and chants. Portland midfielder Rodney Wallace jumped back into the starting lineup after returning from international duty with the Costa Rican national team and defender Ryan Miller got his third start of the season, playing in place of the injured Michael Harrington.

Just 45 seconds into regulation, the Rapids went on the attack, sending Timbers goalie Donovan Ricketts diving to the turf to thwart an attempt on goal. Colorado launched a second shot at Ricketts 20 seconds later that required another quick reaction, setting the tone for the game in the early going. Both attempts were just wide of the right goal post, but the Timbers were put on notice that the Rapids had come with the intention of spoiling Portland’s march up the standings.

The Timbers regrouped from the onslaught in the opening minutes to break through against a motivated Colorado squad in the 12th minute. Portland opened up the scoring when Will Johnson took the restart ball and passed it to Wallace, who booted a cross into the Rapid box that hit Frederic Piquionne in stride, and Piquionne took advantage of the opening with a header over the top of Colorado goalie Clinton Irwin. It was the 100th goal in franchise history and Piquionne’s first in MLS play.

Portland continued to work for opportunities against the Rapids defense, and their efforts were rewarded with a goal by Will Johnson on the counterattack in the 45th minute. “It was a great little ball from Rodney,” Johnson said. “He saw me—I was making a late run from midfield. I figured he would slide it at my feet. I just chipped it up in the air and volleyed it with the left. You don’t know if you’re capable of something like that until you try it.”

The second half was a back-and-forth battle until the Timbers’ control of possession finally paid off. At the 84th mark, midfielder Ben Zemanski drove into the middle of the Rapids’ box and then tapped the ball over to Wallace, who hit a cross that was finished by Ryan Johnson to seal the game for Portland. Wallace notched his third assist of the match on the score, tying him for second in the MLS.

With the team now sitting at the top of the standings alongside Real Salt Lake, head coach Caleb Porter was quick to put the accomplishment in perspective. “That was a very professional performance today,” Porter said. “Obviously, we’re pleased to be…where we are, with 30 points at the top of the table. But we’re only halfway through. It feels great but, as I told the guys, we have a long way to go. And what’s scary about this team is we’re just scratching the surface.”

“Now, I think it gets even tougher,” Will Johnson said. “No more flying under the radar. We’re going to get everybody’s best now.”

The Timbers move on to play FC Dallas in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup at FC Dallas Stadium tonight, followed by an international friendly against Club Atletico Monarcas Morelia at Jeld-Wen Field on July 3.