Felipe Mora’s first-half brace halted an extended dry spell and helped lift the Portland Timbers to a 3-1 victory over visiting Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference wild-card game on Wednesday night.
Kamal Miller’s late header gave eighth-seeded Portland some insurance as the Timbers sealed a first-round series meeting with Western Conference No 1 San Diego FC. The best-of-three set will begin Sunday in Southern California.
James Pantemis made six saves to preserve the victory, just Portland’s second in its past 11 games.
Justen Glad’s header late in the first half gave RSL a lifeline. However, Salt Lake saw its winless playoff streak extended to eight matches (three losses, five draws) after sneaking into the ninth and final West spot via results on the final day of the regular season.
Mora hadn’t scored in his last 23 regular-season games, or his previous 12 appearances in all competitions, only to come through with arguably his biggest performance in a Timbers shirt.
His first goal came following a sequence that could’ve turned into a red card for Salt Lake.
Ultimately, referee Guido Gonzales Jr. showed restraint in allowing RSL’s Noel Caliskan to remain in the game rather than issue the player a second booking in as many minutes for Caliskan’s late tackle of Diego Chara.
Mora was first to the ensuing, outswinging free kick from the right side. While Salt Lake goalie Rafael Cabral saved the initial effort, the rebound fell kindly to the striker for a low finish in the 24th minute.
Mora’s second goal came from a similar sequence 11 minutes later. This time Kristoffer Velde sent in the inswinging service from the right, but again Mora followed his own rebound of a saved header with a composed finish.
Glad answered with his header of Diogo Goncalves’ cross four minutes later to give Salt Lake some momentum heading into half-time.
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After the break, the visitors were the better side. William Agada’s sensational 73rd-minute bicycle kick struck the crossbar. A minute later, Brayan Vera thought he’d tied it with an exceptional free kick that snuck inside the left post, only for it to rightly be ruled out because Rwan Cruz illegally interfered with Portland’s defensive wall.
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Miller sealed the result in the 82nd minute when he snuck to the back post unmarked to head in substitute Ariel Lassiter’s clever diagonal ball.
