Boosted by a brace from Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Portland Timbers handle Colorado Rapids, 3-0

After an extended season with loads of on-field struggles and no scarcity of out of doors criticism, Portland Timbers striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda broke by in an enormous means on a sizzling Saturday evening at Windfall Park. Niezgoda’s two second half objectives carried the Timbers to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in a vital sport for Portland because it seeks a return to kind.

With the win, the Timbers (4-6-7, 19 factors) transfer up from thirteenth out of 14 groups within the convention right into a tie for tenth with the Rapids (5-7-4, 19 factors). Seven groups per convention make the MLS Cup playoffs.

“We haven’t performed right here at residence for some time,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese mentioned. “The efficiency, particularly within the second half, I believed was a really sturdy efficiency. Within the first half … we slowed down a bit bit and began giving them respiration room to really feel extra comfy. On the finish, we discovered that essential objective that I believe gave us an opportunity to really feel sturdy and assured.”

Portland struggled to complete its probabilities all through the primary half, coping with most of the similar points within the ultimate third it had confronted so many instances this season. The Timbers would get themselves into a robust place to attain, however small errors or slim misses would do them in.

Yimmi Chara and Niezgoda every had probabilities within the first 10 minutes that fell into that class. Colorado’s first likelihood of the evening got here within the thirteenth minute off the foot of Jonathan Lewis, nevertheless it scooted simply broad of objective.

Within the twenty first minute, Portland misplaced midfielder Cristhian Paredes to what seemed to be a leg damage, and he was changed by Eryk Williamson. The 2 groups performed a bodily the rest of the primary half, together with a yellow card assessed to Diego Chara within the twenty eighth minute, earlier than a defining second within the match.

In first half stoppage time, Santiago Moreno collided with Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough, who remained on the turf for an prolonged interval. After evaluate, as Yarbrough left the sphere visibly shaken up, the Timbers have been awarded a penalty kick and Yarbrough a yellow card.

Then 19-year-old goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez took the pitch to defend a penalty kick from Sebastian Blanco. As he got here on, Rodriguez was speaking smack to Blanco, who stepped as much as the spot and nailed the penalty kick fully unfazed.

“He mentioned, ‘It’s my first sport and I’m gonna save your penalty,’” Blanco mentioned with a smile, recounting the encounter with Rodriguez. “And I mentioned, ‘Effectively it’s my first penalty of the season, so we’re the identical.’”

Regardless of a largely lackluster efficiency, the Timbers led 1-0 on the half because of Blanco’s PK. They carried that momentum into the second half of play, and Niezgoda put the staff on his again within the ultimate 45.

Within the 54th minute, Niezgoda received in behind the Colorado protection in stride with an extended go from Invoice Tuiloma, and he was capable of rifle one residence to make it 2-0 Portland.

However Niezgoda was removed from performed.

Within the 62nd minute, with the Colorado protection mismatched and undermanned, Williamson performed a fast ball in that discovered a streaking Niezgoda for the rating. Niezgoda’s second objective of the evening made it 3-0 Timbers and stuffed the air as soon as extra with thick, inexperienced smoke.

“I scored my first objectives right here this season, in order that’s a breakthrough,” Niezgoda mentioned. “I believe it’s what I wanted and I simply have to maintain going. Preserve scoring.”

The Timbers have been attempting to find a 3rd objective for Niezgoda, which might have been the primary hat trick in Portland’s MLS historical past. It wasn’t within the playing cards, nonetheless, as Colorado prevented one other from occurring the board the remainder of the best way.

Portland’s subsequent match is Wednesday evening towards the Houston Dynamo, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Windfall Park (TV on Fox 12 Plus).

— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com