The Timbers went right on the attack from the starting kickoff, with a sequence of night tight passes ending up with Chris Brown putting a shot just over the crossbar from the top of the Thunder box, then a minute, a dangerous high chip into the box that the Thunder couldn’t control just eluded the foot of Shaun Higgins before Thunder goalkeeper Nic Platter could grab it.

The Thunder would take a little more possession over the next part of the match, and get their first good look at goal in the 7th minute when Stephen DeRoux hit a hard rising shot from 20 yards out that Timbers goalkeeper Ray Burse grabbed pretty easily.

Then the Timbers started getting forward more and it didn’t take long to pay off, when Brown received a pass from Neil Dombrowski, juked once to lose a Timbers defender, then just like last week, hit a hard shot that slipped into the bottom left corner, this time from 20 yards out as it eluded Platter, and the Timbers had an early 1-0 lead.

Both teams were having trouble keeping possession in the midfield, so very few scoring chances took place for the rest of the first half, but in the 26th minute, Portland’s Takayuki Suzuki eluded two defenders on a run down the left side to force a corner, and off the Andrew Gregor corner, Brown was set up with a good look from near the top of the box, but his hard shot was blocked by Minnesota defender Kevin Taylor and cleared.

Ten minutes later, it was Suzuki who nearly converted when he cut back into the box after a run down the right side, then curled a shot off his left foot that just slipped past the Minnesota keeper, but also just past left post.

The center referee Yader Reyes had chosen to let a lot of rough play go on, and the game was very sloppy for much of the night, and in the 42nd minute, after what appeared to be series of fouls on both teams that went uncalled as the ball continued to change hands, Minnesota suddenly emerged in a 3-on-2 against the Timbers defense, and Ricardo Sanchez played a diagonal ball to an open Aaron Paye, who tapped easily into the Timbers goal, and on just their second shot of the night (and would be their last, as it happened), the Thunder had drawn level with the home Timbers at 1-1. The match would remain level at the half.

The visiting Thunder attempted to push more players forward as the second half started, looking to use the momentum from the late goal in the first half, but though they forced a few free kicks and a corner kick, were unable to put any shot on goal. Having endured the run of possession that the Thunder opened the half with, the Timbers started looking for chances to take advantage of them pushing forward, when Justin Thompson spotted Brown making a good run, and played a nearly perfect pass that Brown attempted to chip a retreating Platter from 20 yards, but was not able to take enough off the shot, and put it a few yards over the bar.

Brown was able to break in again to make a deep run five minutes later, but Platter was able to make a kick save and cover the ball. But the assault on the goal had not ended when just a few seconds later, Brown stole the ball from a Thunder defender and dropped the ball to an open Suzuki, who hit a hard shot just high and wide.

The Thunder were now clearly playing on their heels and became more defensive, attempting to hold onto the point. But in the 65th minute, after some clever tight dribbling along the right sideline by Muguel Guante, then tapped a pass ahead to Gregor, who one-touched a low cross that found Higgins at the far post, and Higgins one-touched the ball behind Platter, just slipping inside the right post and into the net, and the Timbers had regained their lead at 2-1.

In the 70th minute, after having controlled most of the possession, the Timbers had three great chances in rapid succession, the first being Leonard Griffin evading several defenders before hitting a dipping shot that Platter was able to stop with a reaction save, then barely cover. Seconds later, a through ball had Brown rounding Platter but not being able to slide the ball into a momentarily open net, with Minnesota’s Taylor getting back in chance to stop the ball before it crossed the line. Then when the ball was not cleared properly, Dombrowski hit a hard blast from 20 yards out that Platter just had time to tip over the crossbar.

Off the ensuing corner kick, the ball slipped back into the box to the feet of Higgins, who had a good look and chance to double his total, but his shot was blocked wide off a Thunder defender.

Having not gotten a third goal with several great chances, the Timbers instead made some defensive moves to protect their lead, and the Thunder never threatened seriously for the rest of the match, and the Timbers would hold on for the 2-1 win.

Ray Burse had two saves for the Timbers, while Nic Platter recorded five for the Thunder.