Final
Portland topples Sporting to extend unbeaten run
Apr 28, 2013 - 2:41 AM Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - The Portland Timbers continued their impressive form on Saturday after Rodney Wallace tallied the decisive goal in the 58th minute of a 3-2 Timbers victory at Sporting Kansas City.Sporting's Chance Myers attempted to steal the show when he netted his first MLS goal inside of the opening minute, and then found the net again in the 29th.
But Portland's Ryan Johnson was up to the task and he scored once and assisted on another goal in the opening half as the teams finished 2-2 in the first 45 minutes.
The difference came 13 minutes after the break when Wallace cut open the Sporting defense and took a nice ball from Diego Chara before slotting his shot past goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
Portland extends its unbeaten streak to six games with the result, while Sporting has lost back-to-back games following a three-match winning streak.
Myers' big moment came 40 seconds into the contest when he headed home Matt Besler's long throw-in from the middle of the penalty area.
Diego Valeri had a shot deflected onto the crossbar as Portland tried to respond, but Valeri had a hand in the equalizer when his corner kick was nodded past Nielsen by Johnson.
Myers scored just before the half-hour mark to restore Sporting's lead, but the Timbers replied quickly with Johnson setting up a tap-in goal for Darlington Nagbe in the 33rd.
Wallace benefited from Chara's pinpoint pass in the 58th, but Portland had to withstand a few anxious moments over the final 30 minutes as Besler's cross teed up Aurelien Collin inside the box, but he shot straight at goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
Myers then came within inches of completing his hat trick when he turned a header just wide.
- PORTLAND: 3
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 2
Final
Apr 27 10:31 PM - PORTLAND: 2
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 2
Halftime
Apr 27 9:25 PM - Kansas City Goal - Myers 2 (Collin, Feilhaber), 29th minute
Timbers 1, Sporting Kansas City 2 32'Apr 27 9:10 PM - PORTLAND: 0
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 0
1st Half - 1'
Apr 27 8:38 PM
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