On a picturesque spring evening in the Rose City, the Portland Timbers took on the Columbus Crew at Providence Park. Getting things started early, Will Johnson made a great steal at midfield before dribbling down the left channel. He passed to Steve Zakuani on the wing who then slipped a ball past the Crew defense to forward Maximiliano Urruti. Urruti took a touch on the spin before firing top shelf and giving the Timbers a 1-0 lead.
The Crew, however, found a goal in nine minutes later as midfielder Frederico Higuaín carried down the right side before lofting a long shot over goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
After going down to ten men in the 34th minute due to a straight red card against Timbers defender Alvas Powell, Portland went down 2-1 late in first half stoppage time following this penalty kick from Columbus' Frederic Higuain.
The Timbers kept driving and driving late into the second half and were rewarded in the 80th minute as Jack Jewsbury gamely stayed with the ball before crossing into the box to Will Johnson. Johnson fired the ball home with tenacity to pull the Timbers back 2-2.
On the ensuing kickoff and just into match, Crew's Ethan Finlay finds himself with space outside the area, fires a hopeful shot on net which deflects off a Timbers defender and into the back of the net. Crew jump back up 3-2.
Tenacity. That's the word that comes to mind as the Timbers kept pushing late into the second half. In the 85th minute, Diego Valeri served in a free kick that new Timbers forward Fanendo Adi headed on frame. As ball bounced, Gastón Fernández does what La Gata does and pounces to to poke it into the back of the net. Timbers and Crew even again at 3-3.
