Timbers Shred Minnesota United in Six-Goal Thriller

Having been a major disappointment in the 2016 MLS Season, former champions Portland Timbers look back to their best. Hosting the Minnesota United first-team at Providence Park in the gushing rain, the Timbers ran out an impressive 5-1 winners in what was a pretty pulsating game of soccer.

With barely any chances save for the goal, United leave PP without anything really positive to relate to the match or how it played out. They were comprehensively outplayed, and already genuine questions will be asked about the quality – or lack of – within their squad. Are they competitive enough to compete this season? Judging on this performance, not a chance.

Former Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino had the first chance of the game, drawing a good save from Timbers keeper Jake Gleeson. After this bolt from distance in the 10^th, though, things went quiet for the away side.

Portland opened the scoring four minutes later with a fine goal from Lawrence Olum. The newcomer slammed home a header from a set-piece to get the rout underway. By the end of the fist-half, it was still only 1-0, with the away side’s doggedness in front of goal proving a good enough means of stopping a strong Portland side from converting. After the beak, though, things got ugly.

Two minutes into the second half, the talismanic Diego Valeri headed from a Sebastian Blanco cross. Blanco mishit a fine volley just wide to avoid making it 3-0 shortly after. The game continued to press on, with very little happening up until the 80^th minute. The away side got a goal back, with Christian Ramirez turning the Timbers defense and lashing home a nice finish. It was a historical moment for the club – a first-ever MLS goal.

This, though, seemed to just annoy the hosts. They stored their 2-goal cushion shortly after, when Valeri scored a penalty. Fanendo Adi was pulled to the ground, and Valeri done the rest, dispatching home with his typical style.

Adi added a fourth moments later again, bursting the United defense on a brutal counter-attack. Skimming by two defenders, the big Nigerian blasted beyond John Alvbage in the Minnesota goal to essentially end the game.

Then, to add insult to injury, Adi scored a wonderful fifth. Destroying three defenders on his own, he landed the crushing blow to make it 5-1 in added time and to really put a dampener on the night for the away team. With three points from their opening game, the Timbers now head off to watch the rest of the weekend unfold.

The away side meanwhile leave battered and bruised, with a meeting against Atlanta United FC coming up in the days to come.

For Timbers fans, though, it must be nice to see them looking so effervescent in front of goal once again.