The first half would actually have very few good scoring chances for each team. Both teams had a few close free kicks, and both teams had a few deep crosses, but there was very little for either keeper to do through the first 40 minutes, though Portland’s Matt Taylor probably had the best look in the 30th minute with a cutback that gave him and open look just out from the penalty spot, but put his shot well over the bar.

In the 39th minute, it appeared that the Battery will going to go down a player after Andre Toussaint fouled Neil Dombrowski, and already carrying a yellow, and center referee Colin Arblaster went to his pocket for the yellow card, but after realizing Toussaint already had a yellow, returned the yellow to his pocket.

On the ensuing free kick from midfield, it appeared the Timbers had taken the lead when Lawrence Olum appeared to get his head to the ball just before Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock, with Scot Thompson finishing from close in. But the goal was waved off, as has happened several times in recent matches, and the half would end with the teams tied at 0-0.

Both teams would come out with a little more of an attacking posture in the second half, with Battery midfielder Mike Richardson getting a good look on a Battery 3 on 2 but putting it over the bar, then Portland’s Andrew Gregor getting a good look in the 49th minute with a dipping shot, but it was right at the Charleston keeper. Six minutes later, the Timbers came very close to grabbing the lead when Gregor hit a curling volley from near the corner of the box that missed the far post by a yard.

In the 62nd minute, the Timbers had another good scoring chance when a long ball from Shaun Higgins found Olum slipping in behind the Battery defense, and got a good look against three defenders before having his shot blocked by Brandon Curran.

Three minutes later, the Battery had a great chance to take the lead when a free kick from just outside the Timbers box by Lazo Alavanja dipped nicely to the lower left corner, but was smothered by Timbers goalkeeper Josh Wicks. In the 69th minute, the Timbers would have another good chance when after a corner, the ball was knocked back into the box by Dombrowski, with Scot Thompson open near the far post, but the ball drifted a bit too far, and Thompson’s header went harmlessly over the bar.

In the 73rd minute, the Battery nearly made a long run of possession pay off when Alavanja had a good look from the near the top of the box, and his strike to the lower left corner required a diving save from Wicks.

The Timbers would finally make the pressure pay off, and score at home for the first time in over four games (388 minutes without a goal), when in the 79th minute, the Battery were not able to clear the ball cleanly from their own box, with Dombrowski stealing the ball, and taking a shot that hit teammate Bryan Jordan, but rebounded to Justin Thompson, who hit a wicked dipping full volley from outside the 18 yard box that went into the top right corner of the net, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.

In the 87th minute, the Battery would have a good chance when Alavanja had an open look from about 15 yards out, but his attempt to hit a dipping shot was over the crossbar.

The Timbers would see one more good chance as the match entered stoppage time when Jordan chested a pass to second half substitute Chris Bagley, who had an open look near the corner of the Battery box, but his blast was just over the bar.

Three minutes into four minutes of announced stoppage time, the Timbers came within inches of scoring another goal when a Gregor free kick bounced through the box, and just eluded the feet of two lunging Timbers players.

At the final whistle, there was a scrum on the pitch that resulted in a yellows for both teams, but it was a second yellow and ejection for Charleston’s Curran.

With the win, the Timbers come only the third team in the history of the USL First Division to complete an undefeated home season as the Timbers finish 8-0-6 at home in league play this season, and 11-0-6 in all competitions. The Timbers also record their fourth straight shutout at home, and have not allowed a goal at home since July 19 against Vancouver, a span of 442 minutes.

Josh Wicks recorded four saves in the shutout, while Dusty Hudock had four saves for the Battery.