PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers clinched a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, Sunday at Providence Park. Diego Chara,Larrys Mabiala and Sebastián Blanco scored the goals as the Timbers played their final regular season home match of the season.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
1' - CHANCE (POR) - After a beautiful long pass from defender Liam Ridgewell, Diego Valeri fired a shot at a tight angle forcing RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando to make an early save that resulted in a Portland corner kick.
15' - GOAL (POR) - Mabiala gave the Timbers the early lead when he found the end of a Valeri free kick, leaving Rimando no chance at the save. Chara set up the free kick being tripped by RSL's Kyle Beckerman about 30 yards from goal.
19' - CHANCE (POR) - Valeri almost doubled the Timbers lead when he created space near the top of the box, before firing just wide of the RSL net.
44' - SAVE (POR) - Goalkeeper Steve Clark denied a close-range RSL header when he delivered a strong two-hand punch to deny Kyle Beckerman from a RSL corner kick.
52' - SAVE (POR) - Clark again denied RSL off a corner kick when he reached his hand out at the last second to deny Justin Glad's side-volley.
63' - CHANCE (POR) - After fantastic combination play between Andy Polo and Jorge Villafaña on the left-side of the field, Villafana found Blanco at the top of the eight-yard box. Blanco's left-footed shot sailed just over the goal.
68' - GOAL (POR) - Chara finished off a superb counterattack when he rounded Rimando and finished into an empty net. Chara was set up on the play by Blanco, who delivered a pinpoint pass behind the RSL defense.
87' - GOAL (POR) - Blanco put an exclamation point on the match when his left-footed shot froze Rimando and sealed the three points for Portland. The goal was Blanco's 10th of the season, becoming the second Portland player to hit double digits for goals this season.
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The Timbers regular-season finale is next Sunday on MLS Decision Day, presented by AT&T, when they travel north to Canada to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 28. Kickoff is 1:30pm PT on ROOT SPORTS
Portland Timbers (15-9-9, 54pts) vs. Real Salt Lake (14-13-7, 49pts)
Oct. 21, 2018 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
Portland Timbers 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
POR: Mabiala (Valeri), 15
POR: Chara (Blanco), 68
POR: Blanco (Melano), 87
Misconduct Summary:
RSL: Beckerman (caution), 27
POR: Valeri (caution), 64
POR: Blanco (caution), 68
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Ridgewell, D Villafaña, M Guzmán (Olum 76), M Chara, M Polo, M Valeri ©, M Blanco (Flores, 90), F Ebobisse (Melano, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, D Tuiloma, D Powell, F Armenteros
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Blanco, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Blanco, 4); FOULS: 15 (Chara, Valeri, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 5
RSL: GK Rimando, D Herrera (Baird, 72), D Glad, D M. Silva, D Lennon, M Sunny (Saucedo, 78), M Beckerman ©, M Rusnak, F Plata, F Savarino, F Kreilach
Substitutes Not Used: GK Putna, D Acosta, D Besler, D Onuoha, F L. Silva
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Beckerman, Savarino, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (Beckerman, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 5
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Chris Wattam
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance: 21,144
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
