The Timbers knew that the Lynx had played less than 24 hours before in Seattle, and would hope to take advantage of some tired Lynx legs, but it was the visitors who put the first shot on goal, a free kick in the 3rd minute which was on-net around the Timbers wall, but right into the hands of Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders. Six minutes later the Timbers had their first good scoring chance, when a cross into the box from Luke Kreamalmeyer found forward Byron Alvarez open near the far post, but his header from six yards out was saved by a diving save from Lynx goalkeeper Richard Goddard.

Over the next fifteen minutes or so, the Timbers would control most of the run of play, producing a few deep crosses into the Lynx box that did not produce any shots on goal.

Toronto took advantage of another free kick in the 27th minute, when a header from Tony Menezes was a yard or two over the bar. This would be the best run of attack for the Lynx in the first half and one minute later, they had another good chance when after a Lynx goal kick was far enough to give Marco Bedenikovic a free shot after a high bounce off the turf, his low shot forced a quick smother by Saunders to keep the Lynx off the board. The Lynx would have another good scoring opportunity late in the half when a cross from the right side would bounce through the Timbers crease just out of the reach of a few charging Lynx players. But neither team was able to score in the opening half and the score would be a 0-0 draw at the break.

The second half would be a much more side open style of play than the first, and the Timbers got the first good chance just one minute in when Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was able to turn on a pass at the top of the Lynx box, and his shot from 18 yards out was just wide right.

The Timbers pressure would pay off six minutes later when a long goal kick from Saunders was headed forward by Drew McAthy into the run of Oral Bullen, who dropped a nice past to Kreamalmeyer in the box. He was able to turn and control and beat Goddard low to the bottom right corner of the net, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.

In only took eight minutes for the Timbers to find the net again, when midfielder Mamba Chisoni took advantage of a bad trap by Lynx defender Andres Arango, and made a nice run to the top of the box from out near midfield, and played a short pass to Bullen, who turned at the top of the box and curled a perfect shot off his right foot into the far right upper corner of the net past a diving Goddard, and that spectacular strike would give the Timbers their first two goal lead of the young season.

Both goals were the first for each player for the Timbers.

The Lynx would get a decent scoring chance in the 68th minute when a cross from the left side by Gordon Chin found Jeremy Shepherd open near the far post, but his attempt redirect the cross was collected easily by Saunders.

Three minutes later, the Timbers had a great chance to widen their lead when a long punt from Saunders was flicked on by an Alcaraz-Cuellar header, then a header from Bullen while on his knees was right into the run of McAthy, who broken in alone and kicked the ball to himself around a Lynx defender, only to stopped by a charging Goddard, who was perfectly placed to block the shot with his body.

One minute later it was Bullen charging into the box, with Goddard once again having to come up with a great save to keep the Lynx only two goals down. Five minutes later, it was McAthy threatening again, as a cross from Alcaraz-Cuellar had him wide open only four yards out from the far post, but his header was over the bar.

The Lynx had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 79th minute when a header from Shepherd gave Osni Neto a good chance from just inside the corner of the box, but a spectacular save from Saunders at the near post kept the Lynx off the board. One minute later Saunders would have to come up with another good save, when a shot from close-in by Chin forced Saunders to go low quickly to come up with the save.

A minute or so later, it was the Timbers on the attack again when Kreamalmeyer managed to keep the ball on his feet long enough to get to the top of the box, but put his shot just wide to the right.

Just when it appeared the Timbers would get their first shutout of the year, the Lynx would pull one back late in stoppage time when an attempted pass by Neto was blocked by a sliding tackle by Scot Thompson, but the ball fell right back into the run of Neto, but beat Saunders low to the far side from outside the box to pull the Lynx to within a goal at 2-1.

But there was not enough time on the clock for the Lynx to get a chance at an equalizer, and the Timbers would break their three game losing streak with a 2-1 win. Josh Saunders had six saves for the Timbers, while Richard Goddard had four for the Lynx.