Portland Timbers built a commanding lead and then endured a tense finish to beat St. Louis CITY SC 3-2 at Energizer Park on Wednesday, October 28. Kristoffer Velde’s goals in the 42nd and 48th minutes, either side of David Da Costa’s strike at 45+3, proved enough to secure all three points in this Major League Soccer fixture.
St. Louis threatened a remarkable recovery through Daniel Edelman’s 58th-minute header and Jeong Sang-Bin’s goal at 90+1. Portland’s task became more difficult when Kamal Miller was sent off at 90+6, but the visitors held their narrow advantage through the final whistle.
Portland seize control around halftime
The decisive stretch came either side of the interval. Velde broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, and Da Costa doubled Portland’s advantage in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, sending the Timbers into the break 2-0 ahead.
St. Louis needed a strong response after halftime. Instead, Velde struck again in the 48th minute to complete his brace and put Portland three goals clear. The visitors had turned a goalless contest into a commanding position in a devastating burst around the interval.
CITY fight back as the finish turns tense
Edelman gave the hosts a route back into the match with a header in the 58th minute, reducing the deficit to 3-1 with more than half an hour of regulation time remaining.
St. Louis finished with 60.8 percent possession and a narrow 13-12 advantage in total shots, while both sides registered six attempts on target. Those figures underlined the difference Portland’s finishing made: despite having less of the ball, the Timbers had established the cushion that ultimately decided the contest.
Jeong’s goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time brought CITY within one and renewed hopes of salvaging a draw. Miller, who had been booked in the 71st minute, was then shown a red card at 90+6, leaving Portland to protect their lead with 10 men.
The equalizer never arrived. St. Louis won the second half 2-1, but Portland’s three-goal burst was enough to withstand the comeback and deliver a hard-earned away victory.
What comes next
St. Louis CITY SC return to action against San Diego FC on Saturday, October 31, at 12:00 p.m. PDT. Portland Timbers next face Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday, November 1, at 5:00 p.m. PST.
