The first good attack for either team would be in the 5th minute when Montreal’s Leo Di Lorenzo had a good look from 20 yards out, but his blast was tipped over the bar by Portland goalkeeper Brad Knighton.

Six minutes later, the Timbers would have their first good scoring chance when a cross into the box by Chris Brown was met by a powerful header by Lawrence Olum, but the shot was right at Montreal goalkeeper Andrew Webber and easily saved.

In the 15th minute, a through ball from Leonard Griffin had Portland’s Bryan Jordan in alone, and he appeared to tap the ball past Weber before Weber made contact with him to take him down in the box, but the center referee felt it was a fair play and no penalty was called. Three minutes later the Timbers turned a 2-on-5 attack into a dangerous chance as Jordan nearly got a cross to Byron Alvarez at the far post, but defender Cedric Joqueviel was able to just get a toe on the ball to put the ball over the end line and out of danger.

In the 23rd minute, Montreal’s Sandro Grande nearly repeated a feat he accomplished on June 30, 2005 when he fooled Portland goalkeeper Josh Saunders and put a 45 yard free kick into the net when the Timbers goalkeeper expected a cross instead. But on this occasion the 35 yard shot was tipped over the bar by Knighton.

Four minute later, Montreal would have another good chance when Severino Jefferson was able to get into the Timbers box, but Portland’s Scot Thompson was able to shoulder Jefferson off the ball and clear the danger. Though the Timbers would have more of the possession for the rest of the half, neither team seriously threatened again, possibly wearing down from the stifling heat, but at the half, the score was 0-0.

Just five minutes into the second half, the Timbers would make their first scoring chance count when Thompson played a diagonal ball into the box from 30 yards out that Jordan got his head on about eight yards out from goal, slipping the shot just inside the right post and past the hands of Weber to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later the Timbers came close to adding another goal as Griffin’s blast from 20 yards out slipped just past the left post.

In the 61st minute, the Impact came within inches of tying the score when Jefferson went low to get his head on a diagonal cross, and his header slipped just a foot past the left post. Jefferson would have another good look seven minutes later when he made a nice run to the top of the Timbers box and had an open look, but put his shot well wide right.

In the 69th minute, the home side would have a few good chances but a good save on Brown’s shot from 20 yards out by Weber kept the Timbers from doubling the lead, but the reprieve was only temporary, as 20 seconds later, Brown sent a long dipping shot from 30 yards towards net that appeared to deflect off the Jordan’s shoulder, and slipped just over Weber’s fingers as he tracked back, and just under the crossbar, and the Timbers had a 2-0 lead.

Over the next few minutes there were a few possible fouls inside the box, on both ends of the pitch, but center referee Edvin Jurisevic kept his whistle in his pocket as no PK calls were to happen.

In the 86th minute, the Impact would have their first good scoring chance in 25 minutes of play, but they made it count as Sita-Taty Motondo made a run down the right side, and found a seam in the packed-in Timbers defense and got the pass through to Tony Donatelli, who one timed-the shot past Knighton, and the Impact had pulled back to 2-1.

The remainder of regulation, as well as three minutes of stoppage time, would have end-to-end action, but no shots on goal, and at the final whistle, the Timbers would have the 2-1 victory, ending their seven game overall winless streak, and nine games without a win at PGE Park.

Brad Knighton recorded three saves in the winning effort, while Andrew Weber also had three saves for Montreal.