{"id":9409,"date":"2017-08-24T01:31:10","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T05:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonsoccer.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=9409"},"modified":"2017-08-24T01:31:10","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T05:31:10","slug":"hunt-portland-timbers-beat-rapids-2-1-keep-pace-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/08\/24\/hunt-portland-timbers-beat-rapids-2-1-keep-pace-west\/","title":{"rendered":"In The Hunt: Portland Timbers Beat Rapids 2-1 To Keep Pace In West"},"content":{"rendered":"

PORTLAND, OR (August 23, 2017)<\/strong> – The Portland Timbers got a big home win against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night. With every Western Conference playoff team in action for some mid-week MLS, the Timbers kept up with a 2-1 win<\/a>. Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe led the way. <\/p>\n

Portland Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jeff Attinella — Zarek Valentin, Lawrence Olum, Roy Miller, Vytautas Andriuskevicius — David Guzm\u00e1n, Diego Chara — Sebasti\u00e1n Blanco, Diego Valeri (C), Darlington Nagbe — Darren Mattocks<\/p>\n

Colorado Starting XI (4-3-3): Tim Howard (C) — Mike da Fonte, Kortne Ford, Eric Miller, Mekeil Williams — Luis Gil, Michael Azira, Mohammed Saeid — Dillon Serna, Kevin Doyle, Joshua Gatt<\/p>\n

In The Hunt: Portland Timbers Beat Rapids 2-1 To Keep Pace In West<\/h2>\n

Portland came out flying against a battered opponent at home. They possessed the ball well and went at goal with numbers early and often. Colorado handled the rotations as well as they could, but the Timbers still created a number of shooting chances. <\/p>\n

The home side drew first blood 21 minutes in. After some good passing in and around the box, Vytas delivered a cross into the middle. The Rapids backline was making their first start with this combination of players in their positions. Poor communication left Captain Valeri open who headed it into the back of the net.
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