Defender scores stoppage time game-winner to extend undefeated streak to 9PORTLAND, Ore. — Defender Drew Moor’s extra-time goal lifted the Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field.
Jamie Smith served in a set piece to set up the winner. Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins stopped two attempts from close range but the Portland backline could not get a clearance. Moor got on the loose ball and put it in the back of the net.
The win is the first for Colorado in more than a month and comes after six straight ties. It also set two new team records by extending the club's undefeated streak to nine straight games and the road unbeaten run to five in a row.
It appeared that the Rapids might set an MLS record for consecutive ties at seven before Moor seized on one of the few second-half opportunities for Colorado.
The game ended after Ryan Pore took a final shot for Portland that went over the crossbar.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Timbers, who lost for the third straight time. Portland had an 18-14 advantage in shots, but just couldn't put one into the net.
The goal came moments after Portland coach John Spencer was asked to leave by the referee.
It was a physically demanding first half for the Timbers. Kenny Cooper emerged from a crowd of bodies after a Colorado corner kick with a bloodied forehead. He left the game momentarily and re-entered with a bandage wrapped around his head.
Timbers defender Mamadou “Futty” Danso left the field on a stretcher after going up with Colorado’s Caleb Folan to win a 50-50 ball. Danso injure his left shoulder on the play, which came in the 23rd minute. He was transported to a nearby hospital to be examined.
Despite the fact that the game entered stoppage time with the teams still tied at 0-0, the affair proved to be action-packed, with Portland 'keeper Troy Perkins and Colorado netminder Matt Pickens making several key saves.
Only 11 minutes into the match, Rapids midfielder Jeff Larentowicz forced Perkins to stretch out for a save with a long-range effort. Nine minutes later, Colorado's Jame Smith did the same, making Perkins take flight to.
Just minutes later, with Danso on the ground following his injury, the Rapids Conor Casey back-heeled a set-up pass to Folan, who fired a shot that Perkins saved. The Timers 'keeper would deny a good scoring opportunity from the Irish striker again just minutes later .
But just as Perkins answered the call, so did Pickens at the other end.
With the match barely hitting the eight-minute mark, Pickens made a diving stop on a cross-shot from Darlington Nagbe.
Shortly after the restart of the second half, in the 57th minute, Cooper ricocheted a hard volley off the pitch and towards the target, but Pickens made a reaction swap to keep his goal safe.
Colorado now return home to host the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Portland, meanwhile, will defend JELD-WEN Field for a second straight week when the New York Red Bulls pay a visit on Sunday.
Scoring Summary:
COL -- Drew Moor 2 (Caleb Folan 2) 92+
Misconduct Summary:
POR -- Jeremy Hall (caution; Reckless Tackle) 50
COL -- Wells Thompson (caution; Reckless Tackle) 54
POR -- Diego Chara (caution; Reckless Tackle) 67
COL -- Jeff Larentowicz (caution; Reckless Tackle) 77
Lineups:
Colorado Rapids -- Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Tyrone Marshall, Drew Moor, Scott Palguta, Jamie Smith, Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson, Conor Casey (Quincy Amarikwa 75), Caleb Folan.
Substitutes Not Used: Andre Akpan, Danny Earls, Mike Holody, Ross LaBauex, Anthony Wallace, Steward Ceus.
Portland Timbers -- Troy Perkins, Jeremy Hall, Eric Brunner, Mamadou Danso (David Horst 32), Rodney Wallace, Darlington Nagbe (Sal Zizzo 77), Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara, Kalif Alhassan, Kenny Cooper, Jorge Perlaza (Ryan Pore 81).
Substitutes Not Used: Eddie Johnson, James Marcelin, Adam Moffat, Adin Brown.
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Referee's Assistants: -Chris Strickland; Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-68-degrees
Attendance: 18,627
