Argentine Duo Diego Valeri and Maximiliano Urruti had a message to send – that there’s still life in this Portland Timbers team.

A pair of second-half goals from the South Americans guaranteed the points stayed at Providence Park, after overcoming a first half deficit which saw Colorado take a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute.

A moment of passing brilliance between the Portland Timbers players was tapped in near post by Urruti, and then a Valeri curler was the cherry on top for a much needed home win for the Timbers, their first conquest since May 3.

The win saw Portland rise into 7^th place, leap frogging Chivas USA in the West Standings on 24 points. Meanwhile, Colorado continues to reside in the play-offs in 5^th place, on 27 points. The win was a welcome one from the Timbers, who finally ended a four game winless run in front of the passionate home crowd.

In a quiet first half, Colorado made the best of the early chances, when Powers played a delightfully placed ball into the path of an oncoming Deshorn Brown, who forced a fine save from Timbers keeper Donovan Ricketts.

From the resulting corner the Timbers were made to pay for some sloppy keeping from Ricketts, who initially saved well from a Drew Moor header, but the ensuing rebound saw the big man fumbling, and Brown would then pounce to convert on the 16^th minute, despite Valeri’s best attempts to clear off the line.

The Rapids had a chance to double their lead on the 35^th minute, and it was former Timbers man Danny Mwanga, on as a substitute for the injured Brown, who played through Carlos Alverez with a clear sight of the goal. His shot trickled just wide, with Ricketts looking all but beaten by the shot.

With only 20 minutes remaining, Timbers finally found a way through the Rapids stubborn defences, with a beautifully worked team goal. Precise passing cut apart the Colorado back line when Jack Jewsbury, played in by a superb ball from Will Johnson, found Urruti near post whose deft chip beat the despairing Rapids keeper.

Five minutes following a great team goal, Timbers got a piece of individual magic from star man Diego Valeri. Chara played the simplest of ball through to Valeri, who from all of 30-yards score an absolute wonder strike that even two Clint Irwin’s wouldn’t be saving. A must see, and definite candidate for goal of the season.

Timbers then saw out the rest of the match with few if any worrying moments. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come, as new Designated Player Liam Ridgewell was making an impressive debut at the heart of Portland’s defence.

After a much needed win, Portland will hope to carry on the momentum in their upcoming match away to Montreal Impact, and give the Timbers Army a reason to march on.