Minnesota United 3, Portland Timbers 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Jose Romero

Romario Ibarra scored twice before leaving with an injury, and Minnesota United got off to a flying start with three first-half goals en route to a 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.

Michael Boxall also scored off a corner kick and Darwin Quintero had two assists as the Loons snapped a seven-game winless streak. The Timbers rallied with two second-half goals, one from Alvas Powell and the other from Sebastian Blanco, but ran out of time to steal a point on the road.

An 89th-minute red card to Fernando Bob had Minnesota down to 10 men, but the Loons held on.

Minnesota United raised its point total to 33, still well out of playoff contention. Portland remained on 47 points -- still in playoff position -- but have lost two of their last three games and three of seven.

Steve Clark's seven saves kept the Timbers alive for a comeback, but Bobby Shuttleworth also came up big late for the Loons.

Goals

18' — MIN — Romario Ibarra | WATCH
36' — MIN — Romario Ibarra | WATCH
43' — MIN — Michael Boxall | WATCH
55' — POR — Alvas Powell | WATCH
79' — POR — Sebastian Blanco | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The Timbers are now winless in their last six road games with four defeats. They have conceded 14 goals in those four losses, and that recent road play might have been on the mind of coach Giovanni Savarese when he used some profanity to describe his team's woeful first half performance during a halftime interview. It's apparent the Timbers are at their best when Diego Chara and Diego Valeri are on the field, and both were subbed on in the second half. For the Loons, the first half was a clinic while the second was dreadful, which needs to be addressed.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Shuttleworth's effort to stop Andy Polo's shot from close range in the 89th minute kept the Timbers from a draw and maybe more.
Can get go back and appreciate this for a sec pic.twitter.com/fHa4FBO0so
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) September 23, 2018
MAN OF THE MATCH: Miguel Ibarra is the Ibarra known for goals for the Loons. On Saturday, Romario Ibarra was the offensive star with major help from pesky Darwin Quintero, who could not be contained in the attacking half.