I'm not going to pretend that I didn't have a good time last night, it would have been perfect except for that last minute Portland equalizer. Before I get to the match, I just want to say how awesome it was having Timbers Army in the house at the RioT. That might sound weird coming from an RSL fan, but the way those guys party is the class of the league. More people in our section spent more time bitching about how the Timbers fans were obnoxious than they did watching the match, which is horribly lame. Those are football fans, people. The atmosphere in our section at Rio Tinto is more like that of a golf tournament. We did have some Timbers fans sitting next to us that were guests of some of the other season ticket holders in our section. I tried to join in the Tetris dance/chant, but failed.
As for the match itself, for the most part it was the Real Salt Lake that most of us have been hoping to see again for weeks, particularly in the first half. We controlled the ball and created quite a few chances. You can't underestimate how important having Javi Morales back in the midfield is. He directly orchestrated more than a few of the chances.
RSL took the lead right before half time in cheeky style. Fabian Espindola, who played like a beast all night, sent in a gorgeous long ball that found Alvaro Saborio slipping in behind a ball watching Portland defense. He lobbed the ball over Troy Perkins and into the net to give RSL the lead at the half, 1-0.
Portland came out and got in RSL's face a little in the second haalf, and I think it threw us off a bit. Nick Rimando had to knock a way a distance shot from Eric Alexander as soon as the 47th minute.
Then it looked like Portland was sure to equalize in the 55th minute as Wingert conceded a PK for a handball in the box. Many people in our section were upset about it. It was a handball, not intentional, but a handball. I've seen PKs given for less, and I think it was justified, then again, I try not to be too much of a homer. Portland captain Jack Jewsbury stepped up, but knocked the spot kick off the crossbar and into the crowd. Oops.
Potland did find their equalizer in the 90th minute though. RSL really had their only lapse at the back all evening, and Portland took advantage on the break. Brian Umony sent a ball into a pretty much unoccupied RSL 18 and Futty Danso headed it in. Too many people forward for RSL. They should have just controlled the ball at the end and not pushed as much. Instead, they gave Portland the one chance they needed and the Timbers took it. The match finished at 1-1.
RSL will be the third seed in the West following FC Dallas' loss at San Jose later Saturday night. They will begin a 2 legged series against the Seattle Sounders next Saturday night at Rio Tinto. Portland was eliminated from the playoffs prior to the match.
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