Argentine Duo Diego Valeri and Maximiliano Urruti had a message to send – that there’s still life in this Portland Timbers team.
A pair of second-half goals from the South Americans guaranteed the points stayed at Providence Park, after overcoming a first half deficit which saw Colorado take a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
A moment of passing brilliance between the Portland Timbers players was tapped in near post by Urruti, and then a Valeri curler was the cherry on top for a much needed home win for the Timbers, their first conquest since May 3.
The win saw Portland rise into 7th place, leap frogging Chivas USA in the West Standings on 24 points. Meanwhile, Colorado continues to reside in the play-offs in 5th place, on 27 points. The win was a welcome one from the Timbers, who finally ended a four game winless run in front of the passionate home crowd.
In a quiet first half, Colorado made the best of the early chances, when Powers played a delightfully placed ball into the path of an oncoming Deshorn Brown, who forced a fine save from Timbers keeper Donovan Ricketts.
From the resulting corner the Timbers were made to pay for some sloppy keeping from Ricketts, who initially saved well from a Drew Moor header, but the ensuing rebound saw the big man fumbling, and Brown would then pounce to convert on the 16th minute, despite Valeri’s best attempts to clear off the line.
The Rapids had a chance to double their lead on the 35th minute, and it was former Timbers man Danny Mwanga, on as a substitute for the injured Brown, who played through Carlos Alverez with a clear sight of the goal. His shot trickled just wide, with Ricketts looking all but beaten by the shot.
With only 20 minutes remaining, Timbers finally found a way through the Rapids stubborn defences, with a beautifully worked team goal. Precise passing cut apart the Colorado back line when Jack Jewsbury, played in by a superb ball from Will Johnson, found Urruti near post whose deft chip beat the despairing Rapids keeper.
Five minutes following a great team goal, Timbers got a piece of individual magic from star man Diego Valeri. Chara played the simplest of ball through to Valeri, who from all of 30-yards score an absolute wonder strike that even two Clint Irwin’s wouldn’t be saving. A must see, and definite candidate for goal of the season.
Timbers then saw out the rest of the match with few if any worrying moments. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come, as new Designated Player Liam Ridgewell was making an impressive debut at the heart of Portland’s defence.
After a much needed win, Portland will hope to carry on the momentum in their upcoming match away to Montreal Impact, and give the Timbers Army a reason to march on.
Image © Portland Timbers
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