The Portland Timbers took down the Columbus Crew Saturday by a score of 3-2. This is Portland’s first win in five games. The Timbers’ last victory was a 1-0 win over FC Dallas on June 11th. Portland is now 6-9-8 on the season and three points out of a playoff spot.
The first half saw the Portland Timbers taking the early lead. At 27:25, the Timbers would earn themselves a corner kick. The cross inside the box would be batted away by Columbus goalkeeper, Patrick Schulte. Off a deflection, the ball would bounce toward the top of the box where Claudio Bravo and Lucas Zelarayán would contest a follow-up shot. A bicycle kick from Bravo would work the ball through the defense to Cristhian Paredes. With a quick touch, Paredes would give possession over to Dario Zuparic. Zuparic, from just beyond the penalty dot, would shift the ball over to Dairon Asprilla. Asprilla didn’t hesitate to fire a shot across the net toward the far corner. Schulte would get his right hand on the ball. However, it wasn’t enough, and the Timbers would take a 1-0 lead.
Then, the Timbers would strike again while the iron was hot. At 29:35, Franck Boli would gain possession off a throw-in, and chip the ball past the defender, to himself. Boli then crossed midfield and found Asprilla on a run behind the Crew defense. Asprilla would control the ball at the penalty arch. Schulte would come out to cut down the angle on Asprilla. However, Asprilla was poised and ready to cut the ball back across Schulte and roll his shot inside the far post. Asprilla’s first MLS brace would put the Timbers up 2-0.
Unfortunately for Portland, the first half would end on a sour note. Lucas Zelarayán, deep into stoppage time, would receive a pass just outside the box. Zelarayán would spin around Diego Chara, and shift a pass over to Jacen Russell-Rowe at the top of the penalty arch. Russell-Rowe would chip a pass back to Zelarayán, who found himself one-on-one with Portland goalkeeper David Bingham. However, Zelarayán’s angle would allow him to dribble around Bingham, and fire a shot into the net. The Crew would cut Portland’s lead to one, heading into halftime.
In the second half, Columbus’ search for an equalizing goal was a success. At 64:17, the Crew started their march forward with a pass toward the sidelines to Mohamed Farsi. Farsi would find Steven Moreira stepping up on the rush, who then passed the ball back and center. From well beyond the penalty arch, Zelarayán would receive the pass, and rifle a right-footed shot high to the right corner. Bingham went airborne attempting to make the save, but the shot was just out of reach, and the game was tied at 2-2.
The game-winning goal would come at 79:14. Juan Mosquera would receive a pass deep into the attacking third, and send a ball in from a wide angle. Cristhian Paredes would control the pass just above the penalty dot. However, with a swarm of defenders in front, Paredes would pass the ball over to Yimmi Chara. Chara would lose the ball attempting to juke around a sliding defender. However, the ball would roll across the box, and find Sebastián Blanco at the far post. Schulte would slide over to try and make the save, but Blanco’s left-footed shot was aimed high toward the back post. The ball would soar past Schulte, and stay under the crossbar to give Portland a one-goal lead.
For Columbus, the rest of regulation and six minutes of stoppage time in the second half would not be enough to mount a comeback. The Timbers would hold on to win 3-2.
Portland’s next match is Saturday, July 22 at Providence Park, against the San Jose Earthquakes with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 