Photo Credit Bennett Rewan
Portland Timbers 3-Sporting Kansas City 2
The Portland Timbers survived a disjointed first half to top Sporting Kansas City 3-2 behind a second half brace from Samuel Armenteros.
Poor defending and the absence of still recovering Diego Chara marked the Timber’s first half. Without the ball winning midfielder in the center of the pitch, Kansas City had ample time and space to orchestrate their attack, picking passes with ease. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson did his best to stifle Sporting KC’s free flowing attack. His saves were not enough as midfielder Roger Espinoza opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Kansas City continued to threaten, their best chance coming in the 34th minute when a cross found striker Diego Rubio at the six-yard box, whose shot caromed off the top bar.
The first half was not without opportunities for the Timbers. Fenando Adi had a chance to level the score in the 41st minute when the striker found himself on the end of a Sebastion Blanco cross but was unable to head it home.
The Timbers looked more dynamic after manager Gio Saverese made two changes to start the second half. Cristhian Paredes replaced holding midfielder Lawrence Olum. The 19-year-old was deployed higher up the field than Olum had been, allowing him to seek out both the ball and the match. This change shifted his midfield partner David Guzman into a deeper defensive role. Striker Samuel Armenteros came on for Fenando Adi as well, bringing some vitality to the Portland attack.
Portland’s positive play to start the second half resulted in a doubling of their deficit. Sporting KC caught the Timbers with numbers forward and hit them on the break with Diego Rubio scoring in the 52nd minute. For Kansas City this would be merely a pyrrhic victory, as the emboldened Timber’s attack would prove to be too much.
The Timbers’ found their first goal in the 53rd minute when Armenteros picked up an errant back pass, ran at Sporting KC’s defense, and hit the far corner with a deft finish. The Swedish striker’s persistence paid off five minutes later in the 58th minute. Left back Vytas found him at the top of six-yard box; Armenteros’s initial shot would be blocked, the follow up saved, but his third attempt would go in after he dribbled around keeper Tim Melia and passed the ball into the back of the net.
Armenteros would continue to be active and dangerous for the Timbers. The winning goal came in the 77th minute after a defender poked the ball away from Armenteros, who was in behind the backline. Cristhian Paredes found himself on the end of the rebound and buried it home.
There was a worrisome moment for the Timbers in the 69th minute when Vytas was subbed off due to injury.
Saturday’s match was the last chance for players to prove themselves to new manager Gio Saverese before the start of the regular season. The Portland Timbers play their MLS season opener on Sunday, March 4 against the LA Galaxy.
Sporting Kansas City
Portland
