The Portland Timbers traveled to Mile High country Saturday night to take on the Colorado Rapids in an important Western Conference battle.
With picture-perfect late summer weather, the first half proceeded to be a fairly even affair. Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts had two great saves to keep the Rapids off the board with this one in the 24th minute against Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca a true beauty.
The Timbers then got busy in the 43rd minute. Defender Alvas Powell brought down a long switch and cut it back to Diego Chara. Chara cut to the middle before he threaded a pass to Fanendo Adi at the top of the box who then flicked it off the side of this foot for an on-rushing Diego Valeri. Valeri hammered home the ball on the volley to give Portland a 1-0 lead.
Following the half, Portland's Liam Ridgewell is called for a handball in the box. Colorado's Dillon Powers converts to tie it at 1-1.
Then in the 66th minute, Colorado's Deshorn Brown leapt high to head in a goal from the back post to give the Rapids a 2-1 lead.
But the Timbers got some magic off the bench in the form of Maximiliano Urruti and Gastón Fernández. Urruti got a foot on the ball near the top of the box to tap a throughball into the speedy La Gata. Fernández muscled off a defender before slotting it home. All square at 2-2.
