PORTLAND, Ore. – In their final home match of the 2016 MLS regular season, the Portland Timbers defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon. Forward Fanendo Adi scored the Timbers lone goal, converting from penalty spot in the first half to record his 16th goal of the season.
- VOTE: Man of the Match
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
With the result, the Timbers (12-13-8, 44pts) are tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season. With a win at Vancouver in its final match of the season on Sunday, Oct. 23, Portland will earn its third playoff berth in the last four seasons.
Additionally, the win against Colorado (15-6-12, 57pts) extended Portland’s home unbeaten streak against the Rapids to six games, dating back to Aug. 31, 2012, as the Timbers recorded their 12th home win of the season. Portland’s 12 wins at Providence Park in 2016 mark the most home wins in the club’s MLS era, while also ranking as the second-most home wins in MLS this season, behind only the New York Red Bulls (13).
Outshooting Colorado 13-3 in the first half, Portland opened the game aggressively, creating numerous chances to score in the early stages of the match. The Timbers produced their first chance in the opening minute of the match when midfielder Jack Jewsbury’s floated corner kick found defender Liam Ridgewell at the back post, with the defender hitting a header that went just high of the target. Jewsbury, who led all players with five chances created in the match, made his 351st career appearance in regular-season play, featuring in his final regular-season home game at Providence Park, with the midfielder set to retire at the conclusion of the 2016 MLS campaign.
Seven minutes later, midfielder Darren Mattocks found midfielder Darlington Nagbe on the edge of the box, creating another chance on goal. Taking a touch past his marker, Nagbe attempted to curl his strike on target, hitting a powerful effort high over the crossbar.
Approaching halftime, the Timbers opened the scoring in the 35th minute of play when forward Fanendo Adi converted a finish from the penalty spot, sending Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard the wrong way while placing his effort in the right corner. Stemming from a foul on Timbers defender Vytas inside the area, the goal marked Adi’s 16th finish of the season, which ranks as the third-most goals scored by a single player in MLS this season.
Five minutes later, the Timbers were awarded a second penalty kick for another foul inside the area on Vytas, who outworked the Colorado defense to pounce on a loose ball before being brought down on the edge of the six-yard box. Attempting to place his effort in the left corner, Adi’s ensuing penalty kick was saved by Howard. Adi managed to react quickly to collect Howard’s save but struck his follow-up attempt wide of the target.
Continuing to press forward, the Timbers came close to scoring a second goal in the 42nd minute when Valeri hit a powerful effort from the edge of the box, hitting it high of the target. In the 65th minute, midfielder Lucas Melano won the ball in the midfield and drove at the Colorado defense before attempting to lob the ball over Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard, hitting it over the crossbar, while Nagbe’s chance in the 71st minute forced a sliding block from the Rapids defense.
On the defensive end, Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson recorded three saves in three shots faced, as the team recorded its sixth shutout of the season.
Next up, Portland will play two matches in five days, first taking on Deportivo Saprissa in its final group-stage match in the 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday, Oct. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), before traveling to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Portland Timbers (12-13-8, 44pts) vs. Colorado Rapids (15-6-12, 57pts)
Oct. 16, 2016 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 0 0
Colorado Rapids 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Adi (Penalty Kick), 35
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Ridgewell (Caution, 21)
COL: Calvert (Caution, 26)
COL: Williams (Caution, 32)
COL: Burling (Caution, 33)
POR: Chara (Caution, 50)
COL: Azira (Caution, 79)
COL: Doyle (Caution, 89)
COL: Watts (Caution, 90)
POR: Vytas (Caution, 90)
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Powell, D S. Taylor, D Ridgewell, D Vytas (J. Taylor, 90), M Chara, M Jewsbury ©, M Nagbe, M Valeri (Grabavoy, 68), M Mattocks (Melano, 63), F Adi
Substitutes Not Used: GK Konopka, D Barmby, D Valentin, F McInerney
TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Nagbe, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Adi, 2); FOULS: 15 (Chara, 5); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
COL: GK Howard, D Watts, D Burling, D Miller, D Williams, M Cronin, M Azira, M Pappa, M Doyle, M Gashi, F Calvert (Badji, 67)
Substitutes Not Used: GK MacMath, D Burch, D Castillo, D Sjoberg, M Powers, F Le Toux
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Doyle, Pappa, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 26 (Calvert, Doyle, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Gianni Facchini, Jason White
4th Official: David Gantar
Attendance: 21,144
Weather: Rainy, 58 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
