Portland Timbers Beat Sporting Kansas City In MSL Playoff

The Portland Timbers defeated the Sporting Kansas City at home on Thursday night in an exciting first-round MLS playoff game that ended with a 2-2 tie at the end of extra time. After 120 minutes of regular play and extra time, and 22 penalties, the Timbers took it all in Portland by winning 7-6 in the penalty shootout.

Portland took the lead in the 57th minute with forward Rodney Wallace kicking, while falling down, from inside the box to put the Timbers up 1-0. Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi then sent a cross in the 87th minute to connect with Kevin Ellis, who scored on a header and tied up the game.

Then, in extra time, Krisztian Nemeth took a shot from a terrible angle on the left side, near the goal line, in the 96th minute to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead.

Finally, Portland brought the game to yet another tie with three minutes remaining in extra time (117th minute), with a one-time volley from Maximiliano Urruti after a cross from the right.

The final three highlights of the game occurred during the shootout: SKC’s Saad Abdul_Salaam kicked a shot that made the ball touch both goalposts but did not go in the net. SKC also missed their final kick, a goalie matchup in which Portland’s goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey blocked a left-side shot from SKC goalie Jon Kempin, a shot which decided the game. Kwarasey scored his shot against Kempin.

PHOTO: PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 04: Maximiliano Urruti #37 of Portland Timbers celebrates with teammate Dairon Asprilla #11 of Portland Timbers after scoring a goal during the second half of the game against the FC Dallas at Providence Park on April 4, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)