MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Fall in First Leg of Western Conference Championship

Published on November 11, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


SANDY, Utah - The Portland Timbers received an early goal from midfielder Will Johnson and a late strike four minutes into second-half stoppage time from forward Frederic Piquionne, but fell 4-2 to Real Salt Lake on the road in Leg 1 of the Western Conference Championship of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The Timbers trail in the two-game, aggregate-goal series by two goals, and will play host to Leg 2 of the Western Conference Championship against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Nov. 24, at JELD-WEN Field at 6 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPN.

Portland captured its first-ever lead at Rio Tinto Stadium when Johnson struck on a free kick in the 14th minute. But Real Salt Lake answered with four straight goals, led by midfielder Javier Morales with one goal and two assists and forward Robbie Findley's goal and an assist, to take a 4-1 lead in the 83rd minute. The Timbers pulled one back four minutes into second-half stoppage time on a driven header by Piquionne to cut the deficit in the game and series to two goals.

It was the first loss for the Timbers in 11 matches between the regular season and playoffs; the club's last loss was Aug. 30.

Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts finished with four saves, including a diving save in the 82nd minute to derail a flicked on header by Real Salt Lake's Luis Gil from close range. Midfielder Diego Valeri also made a goal-line stop in the 38th minute.

Another high-scoring affair between the Timbers and Real Salt Lake opened in the 14th minute. Valeri was fouled inside the right channel of the attacking third, setting up a free kick for Johnson from just beyond 25 yards. Johnson blistered a shot over the wall and beat Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando inside the left post for a 1-0 lead and his second goal of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Timbers have scored the opening goal in eight of their last nine matches between the regular season and playoffs.

Real Salt Lake gained momentum in the late stages of the first half and found the equalizer in the 35th minute. A corner kick by Morales was headed in by defender Chris Schuler off the base of the left post. Findley then provided the go-ahead goal six minutes later, taking advantage of a miss-hit ball by Portland's Futty Danso as the defender tried to shield him off of a long ball played into the box and converting a one-on-one with Ricketts for his fifth career MLS postseason goal.

A counter attack early in the second half allowed Real Salt Lake to take a 3-1 lead. Initiated by Morales down the right channel, Findley charged down field on the counter. Findley then squared a pass to Sandoval at the top of the six yard box on the near post with his back to goal. Sandoval took a touch and then slipped a shot under Ricketts charging off his line in the 48th minute.

Moments after Ricketts made a key diving save to deny Gil in the 82nd minute, the home side added to its lead on the ensuing corner kick. Second-half sub Joao Plata sent in a corner kick that Morales was able to get his head to, and the ball deflected off a Timbers player near the right post and towards goal and Ricketts could not get enough of the ball to keep it out. Real Salt Lake had a 4-1 lead in the 83rd minute.

The Timbers trimmed Real Salt Lake's lead, 4-2, on the final play of the match. Defender Jack Jewsbury clipped in a cross from the right flank to Piquionne in the box. Piquionne out-jumped his marker and drove in a header inside the right post past Rimando four minutes into second-half stoppage time for his first goal of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Notes:

- The Timbers made their first appearance in the Western Conference Championship of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

- With a 4-2 win, Real Salt Lake leads the two-game, aggregate-goal Western Conference Championship series by two goals heading into Leg 2 in the Rose City on Nov. 24.

- Portland finished the regular season tied for the best home record in MLS this season at 11-1-5 (.794 winning percentage), and is unbeaten at JELD-WEN Field in its last 16 games.

- Six times this season - between the regular season and playoffs - Portland has scored three or more goals at JELD-WEN Field, posting a 4-0-2 record in those games. One of those three-goal performances came against RSL on Aug. 21.

- Twice during the regular season, the Timbers overcame two-goal deficits to earn results - March 3 vs. New York Red Bulls (D, 3-3) and March 30 at Colorado Rapids (D, 2-2). New York and Colorado both qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, and New York won the 2013 Supporters' Shield with the best regular-season record.

- The loss in Leg 1 is the first in 11 games for the Timbers between the regular season and playoffs. The club's last loss was Aug. 30, also against Real Salt Lake.

- The Timbers and Real Salt Lake met for the fifth time in 2013 across all competitions - regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup. In five games, the two clubs have combined for 21 goals.

- With a free-kick goal in the 14th minute, midfielder Will Johnson gave the Timbers their first-ever lead on the road against Real Salt Lake. It was his second goal of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs and he became the first Timbers player to score in consecutive MLS Cup Playoff games.

- According to Opta, Johnson's goal was the first scored off a direct free kick in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.

- On Johnson's goal, the Timbers scored the opening tally for the eighth time in their last nine games between the regular season and playoffs.

- Real Salt Lake's go-ahead goal in the 41st minute by Robbie Findley marked the first time the Timbers had trailed in a match since Sept. 14 - a span of nine games.

- The loss to Real Salt Lake was the first by the Timbers in 2013 when scoring the opening goal of the game; the club is 14-1-6 when scoring the first goal of a match (in regular season and playoffs).

- The Timbers have scored seven goals in three 2013 MLS Cup Playoff matches, coming from six different players.

- Forward Frederic Piquionne scored his first MLS Cup Playoffs goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time. His goal is the latest goal scored by the MLS Timbers on the road at 93:45, and is the second-latest goal scored by the club this season. Defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste's game-winner against LA Galaxy on July 13 was scored at 93:47.

- Defender Jack Jewsbury recorded his second assist of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs on Piquionne's goal. It was his third career MLS postseason assist. In total, defenders have accounted for one goal and two assists for the Timbers during the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.

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