Portland's Bright Dike celebrates his match winning goal (Getty Images)
The Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids are in the midst of a rare, true home and home set in MLS play. Last night Portland hosted the Rapids at Jeld-Wen, The Rapids will host Portland in the "return leg" Wednesday night at 5280. In most leagues in the world, this would also be a relegation battle, with Portland coming in at the foot of the Western Conference table, and the Rapids just one spot ahead of them. Both teams needed the 3 points to attempt to make something out of the season.
The first half started kind of nervy, and while the teams did exchange some half chances, the threats weren't serious as neither side looked like they wanted to make the big mistake. It was also very physical with both sides pretty much giving as good as they were getting in the hits department. However, as we approached the end of the half, it looked it was just going to be a dud.
That turned out not to be the case though as the Timbers lit a fire under the match in the 45th minute. The men in Rose City Red came up and the ball found its way to the foot of Sal Zizzo, who gave the Rapids trouble all night long. Zizzo sent a nice cross into the box, and Bright Dike guided the ball past Matt Pickens to make it 1-0 to the Timbers. Just a minute or so later, Portland nearly doubled the lead as Darlington Nagbe took a gorgeous long pass and got through on goal. Unfortunately for the Timbers Army, he put his shot wide of the mark to end the half.
The Rapids responded well though, and came out and controlled long stretches of the second half. Martin Rivero looked pretty good as usual, and new arrival Hendry Thomas showed some nice flashes as well, but the story for the Rapids, as has been so many times this season, was a lack of finishing.
They had two really great chances to equalize late in the match, but were not able to get the ball on frame to test Donovan Ricketts, who had injured his arm earlier in the match. In the 86th minute Omar Cummings headed a ball wide from the six yard box. He really should have scored, but the Jamaican's poor run of form continued. Then in the first minute of stoppage Andre Akpan took a little ball from Jaime Castrillon for a nice look in front of goal, but he pounded his shot wide as well and the match finished 1-0 to the home side.
As mentioned earlier, the teams will take up the issue again Wednesday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Last place will again be on the line, as this win put the Timbers one point ahead of the reeling Rapids, who fall to the bottom of the West.
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