Portland Timbers 2, Colorado Rapids 0 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Jose Romero

Diego Valeri achieved a milestone reached by only two others in Major League Soccer history in the Portland Timbers' 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.

Valeri became the third player in MLS history to achieve double digits in goals and assists in four seasons. Already on 10 assists, the Timbers' talisman scored his 10th of 2018 with a header off a pass from Sebastian Blanco in the 65th minute.

El Maestro hits a special @MLS milestone with that goal. #PORvCOL #RCTID pic.twitter.com/df0vmrPubj
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 9, 2018

Jeremy Ebobisse scored just before halftime for Portland in his first start of the season. The Timbers picked up three key points and moved into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference at 44 points from 27 matches.

Portland were on the wrong side of two close offside calls that nullified goals by Ebobisse and Valeri in the first half. But the big call of the match came in the 60th minute, when Video Review ruled what was originally ruled a penalty kick for Colorado on a foul by Jack McBean in the build-up to the penalty call.

Goals

45' – POR – Jeremy Ebobisse | WATCH
65' – POR – Diego Valeri | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The Timbers took care of business against a side near the bottom of the standings, and without a few players missing due to international duty. Starting next week, they'll have three games in eight days with two on the road. Beyond the goals, Steve Clark made three saves in a clean sheet with Jake Gleeson still out, Jorge Villafana played well in his second game back with the Timbers and the play of Andy Polo further showed the strong depth the Timbers have on the roster. For the Rapids, elimination from playoff contention looms, but there was this moment for a local guy with potential:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">71' - Special moment as @colebassett19 becomes the youngest player in club history to make his Rapids debut!<br><br>
➡️ Bassett<br>
⬅️ @KortFord<br><br>
2-0 | #Rapids96 | #PORvCOL<br><br>
📝 Game tracker: https://t.co/AulaVSd4Fzpic.twitter.com/b0RnP0yozc</p>
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) September 9, 2018</blockquote></li>

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The call that was and then was not in the second half. Jack McBean was clearly fouled on a run into the box by Clark, but after Video Review referee Drew Fischer determined McBean illegally went through Liam Ridgewell to get there. Hence, a chance to tie the game at 1 and possibly change the final outcome disappeared for Colorado.

MAN OF THE MATCH: It's easy to hand the honor to Valeri, who was once again a factor on offense. Ebobisse also garnered consideration. But Sebastian Blanco assisted on both goals and paced Portland's attack with his runs.

Next Up

POR: Saturday, September 15 at Houston Dynamo (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info)
COL: Saturday, September 15 vs. Atlanta United (3:30 pm ET | UniMás - full TV & streaming info)

Jose Romero

Colorado Rapids Portland Timbers