The Portland Timbers fans had their parade rained on, but it didn’t slow them – or the team – down. The Timbers, and the rain drenched the Chicago Fire on Thursday night, 4-2.
It was Chicago’s second loss of the season.
It was the home opener for Portland (1-2-1), who started the season on the road while $31 million in improvements were completed.
“It feels great because we knew we were capable of getting points on the road,” midfielder Jeremy Hall said of the three games on the road. “We knew we would have to come out and compete. We were going for three (points), but to come out of it with a point is still good.”
But now they were home. And they came prepared.
Timbers’ forward Jorge Perlaza scored two goals and defender Rodney Wallace added another. The Jeld-Wen Field home opener was a success.
Courtesy mlssoccer.com
The first half goals from Perlaza and Rodney Wallace sent the Timbers to the locker room up 2-0.
After the break, the Timbers got a lucky bounce when Wallace’s cross bounced away from Fire goalie Sean Johnson. Perlaza pounced on the loose ball and tapped it into the net.
The Fire (1-2-1) failed to convert multiple times. Really, they didn’t have much offense until second-half sub Dominic Oduro came on. In the 66th minute, Chicago broke through – with a little luck. A ball from Fire midfielder Marco Pappa ricocheted off Portland defender Eric Brunner’s cleat and slid past Jake Gleeson into the net.
Then, just under 15 minutes later, in the 81st minute, Pappa fired a ball over Gleeson’s head to draw the Fire within a goal.
But, Like LL said, don;t call it a comeback. The Fire were unable to convert in the final few minutes.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams was in attendance. As were a number of the Portland Trail Blazers. Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez, Patty Mills and Wesley Matthews all made the trip to catcha glimpse of the newest professional sports team in town.
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