Timbers defeat the Rapids, 1-0

By Galo Legarda, El Hispanic News

Portland, OR — The Portland Timbers got a second consecutive victory on Friday night, this time against the Colorado Rapids by the final score of 1 to 0. The game played at Jeld-Wen Field was attended by 20,438 raving Timbers fans.

The Timbers had many opportunities to score in the first half, but could not finish with the ball inside the goal. Sal Zizzo crossed a loft ball to Franck Songo’o, who shot it in midair but Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens made an excellent save with his right leg to keep the game scoreless.

The Timbers would score at the 45th minute in a counter attack. Sizzo ran the length of the right flank and placed a precise pass to Bright Dike, who was running in the middle of the field. Dike just had to touch the ball lightly to put it in the back of the net. To celebrate his goal, Dike performed a cartwheel and a back flip, sending the Timbers’ fans in to frenzy.

“Sal [Zizzo] is really good at taking players on,” Dike said after the game. “I leave him alone, let him be on that side, and on that cross I was on the end of it. I redirected it into the goal. It was a really good pass on Sal.”

Then Portland almost scored a second goal right before the end of the second half when Songo’o placed a pass to Darlington Nagbe, whose shot went barely outside of Pickens’ right post.

In the second half, both teams had a few clear chances to score. Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts had two interventions that made the win possible for the Timbers.

Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury took a shot from 35 yards to the top right corner of Pickens’ goal, but the keeper was able to send it out of frame.

Timbers interim coach Gavin Wilkinson praised Dike’s performance.

“He has a great level of commitment [to the game] and it was important to bring him back in line, get him match fit. He is a handful,” Wilkinson said.

Many players had outstanding performances. David Horst cut many passes and charged forward on many occasions. Colombian Hanyer Mosquera was very solid as always, especially in aerial plays. Diego Chará was back in the midfield doing the dirty job. Zizzo was on the right wing running up and down and creating danger. All the players made this second win possible on Friday night.

Next up, the Timbers go back to Colorado on Wednesday, Sept. 5. The game will be at 6 p.m.

Este artículo también está disponible en / This post is also available in: Spanish

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