The Portland Timbers topped the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas to open a perfect weekend at the newly remodeled Jeld-Wend Field. Going into Thursday’s home opener against the Fire (1-3-1, 4 points) was a Timbers (2-2-1, 7 points) squad still looking its first win in Major League Soccer. The weather did not hinder the eager fans who made their way to the stadium early for their first look at the team in regular season play.
Carrying momentum from their previous result against New England and the support of a raucous home crowd the Timbers jumped to an apparent early lead on a header by Kenny Cooper but the delivery from the corner was ruled out of bounds prior to ever reaching Cooper. In the 29th minute Jorge Perlaza tallied his first of the season as well as the first ever goal at Jeld-Wen on a skillful cutback that evaded both the defender and Fire keeper Sean Johnson to finally get the Timbers on the scoreboard. The goals continued to pour in as Portland netted two more goals from Rodney Wallace on a wonder volley in the 38th minute and again from Perlaza to open the second half.
The game looked all but put away with Chicago unable to capitalize on their chances but a deflection off Timber defender Eric Brunner in the 66th minute breathed some life into the away side. Before long Chicago pressed the issue and brought the game within one with a goal from Marco Pappa in the 81st minute. The night, however, belonged to the home team who were able to secure the victory after a mad scramble in front of the Fire goal saw the Timbers increase their lead to two after the second own goal of the match was conceded by Chicago defender Dasan Robinson in the 84th minute. With the result the Timbers earned their first victory of the season and left it a night to remember for the Timbers faithful who came to see them.
The wait wasn’t long before the Portland Timbers would welcome another team, this time FC Dallas (1-3-1, 4 points) to their home field. Dallas came into the match seemingly having found its form after thrashing the Colorado Rapids 3-0. MLS MVP, David Ferreira looked to add to his mounting goal total this weekend after nabbing two against the Rapids and he wouldn’t leave disappointed after he put Dallas on board in 83rd minute. But by then it was too little too late, even as he lofted an assist to Brek Shea who tucked in the volley over Jake Gleeson in the 86th minute.
The damage had been done earlier as the Timbers raced out to yet another 3-0 lead led by a number of standouts who shined in both games. Kalif Alhassan, the young Ghanaian International, became the first Timber to record two assists in a single MLS game, bringing his total up to 3 assists on the season as he provided both Jack Jewsbury and Rodney Wallace with the ball to put into the back of the net. Kenny Cooper, who had been denied a goal in the game against Chicago, made sure he didn’t stay off the score sheet for long as he made sure to put a home a beautiful service from a Jewsbury corner in the 35th minute. This time no call by the referee would alter the outcome of the play and the Timbers had enough goals to stave off any rally by the veteran Dallas squad.
With six points in hand from the weekend’s action the Timbers now travel to visit the LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.
(Image courtesty of Craig Mitchelldyer)
