Revenge is a dish best served up with a game-winner from a rookie.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of an 84th minute Niko Hansen<\/strong><\/a> goal, Columbus Crew SC<\/a> knocked off the Portland Timbers<\/a> 3-2 on Saturday. The match was the first between the two clubs at MAPFRE Stadium since Portland won MLS Cup 2015.<\/p>\n After changing things up with a 3-6-1 formation in last week’s 2-0 win over D.C. United, Crew SC manager Gregg Berhalter<\/strong><\/a> returned to the 4-2-3-1. Center back Jonathan Mensah<\/strong><\/a> found his way back into the lineup\u00a0after serving a red card suspension. Waylon Francis<\/strong><\/a> made his first start since August 13 of last year. He filled in for Jukka Raitala<\/strong><\/a> who missed the game due to international duty with Finland.<\/p>\n The home team started off poorly. Four minutes in, the Timbers drew first blood courtesy of a Dairon Asprilla<\/strong><\/a> goal. The Colombian wide player got in behind Francis and snuck the ball past goalkeeper Zack Steffen<\/strong><\/a> with a well-placed far post shot.<\/p>\n Seven minutes later, the Black and Gold equalized. It came via a favorable deflection off a Federico Higuain<\/strong><\/a> corner. After Ola Kamara<\/strong><\/a> headed the ball towards goal, it glanced off Timbers right back Alvas Powell<\/strong><\/a> and right at Justin Meram<\/strong><\/a> who tapped it into a virtually empty net.<\/p>\n With the goal, Meram became the 11th player in club history to reach 25 goals in a Crew SC uniform.<\/p>\n It didn’t take long for Columbus to put another in the net to take the lead. In the 19th minute, Kamara took advantage of some indecisiveness from Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson<\/strong><\/a>. The Norwegian number nine came onto a pass from Higuain and promptly chipped it over Gleeson to give Crew SC a 2-1 advantage.<\/p>\nLate Niko Hansen Goal Propels Columbus Crew SC to Statement Win Over Portland Timbers<\/strong><\/h2>\n