Real Salt Lake 1- Portland Timbers 2
Coming to Rio Tinto Stadium, the Portland Timbers were riding on a positive momentum.
With back to back wins over tough foes Columbus and Toronto, today in the colossus of Sandy Utah , the Rose City streak was in peril.
Three times indeed is a charm for these Portland Timbers, after their win over a troubled Real Salt Lake with todays achievement it looks like they have the Claret and Cobalt number.
We can say an afternoon of genuine and spectacular heroics from this Portland Initial eleven.
After the game official decided to review a play early in the first half when Zarek Valentin appeared to ricochet a ball shoot by RSL Jefferson Savarino having this play going for review.
For referee Ramy Touchan going to his monitor and with the help from VAR, he did not hesitated to award the penalty kick in favor of Real Salt Lake to the joy of the attendees.
However for RSL top playmaker Albert Rusnak taking the penalty and with the opportunity to see his RSL go up in the lead first, he saw his shoot block by an heroic Steve Clark.
As the Portland Timbers second string goalkeeper making his second start, today he errand with all mention of being the Man of the Match with a number of opportune game saving plays.
Not to leave behind the Timbers top play-makers in Sebastian Blanco and Diego Valeri persistence that in the end paid off with another amazing and hard fought win.
The Timbers Sebastian Blanco opened the score with his goal in the 34th minute.
In a game that saw the visiting Portland squad setting the tone and spite of the Claret and Cobalt scoring their only goal in the 62′ minute with a play served by Nick Besler and Corey Baird.
The game did not lasted long at goal apiece when the Portland response came back with an opportune goals scored six minutes later by Diego Valeri, exposing the febble RSL defense.
Goals
Sebastian Blanco 34′ PTFC, Sam Johnson 62′ RSL, Diego Valeri 68′
Highlights
Once again the Portland Timbers defense rising to the occasion, provoking RSL strikers to a scandalous 9 offsides.
Steve Clark stopping the penalty kick and finishing with six valuable saves.
For both Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco both scoring unassisted proves their resolve to score and creativeness is back with a bang.
The whole Portland Timbers initial eleven coming up strong and in spite of the score tied these fought back and rally for the win.
Giovanni Savarese revival in the works of his side after all we may see a winning drive of his Portland Timbers when they return for their home opener.
Man of the Match
No doubt about it Steve Clarke.
Next Match Portland Timbers (3,5,1, 10 points) vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2,5,3, 10 points)
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Portland Timbers
