On Saturday night, Minnesota United welcomed the Portland Timbers to Allianz Field with a chance to defeat their second Cascadia Cup team in as many weeks after ending the Seattle Sounders’ 13-game unbeaten streak the week prior. Although the Timbers would strike first early and largely weather a season-high 28 shots from MNUFC, the home side broke through in the 74th minute with a header by defender Chase Gasper and followed it up with a strike from Robin Lod in the 85th. It was the Finn’s second game-winning goal in a row and pushed the Loons ahead of the Timbers on the table once again.

The game began with the home side executing the kind of high press they used against Seattle to great effect last week. Early on, it worked to get the Loons possession and a few opportunities, including one in the fourth minute when a short, lofted pass to forward Adrien Hunou that would have put him on goal was just knocked down by the Timbers defense.

Although the Loons’ aggressiveness would earn them a set piece opportunity early as Hunou was brought down near the edge of the box, their forward momentum may have stretched them out a bit at the back. In the 10th minute, midfielder Dairon Asprilla sprinted down the left wing and delivered a cross into the box. Forward Felipe Mora cut inside of defender Bakaye Dibassy and delivered an authoritative header past goalkeeper Tyler Miller to put the visitors ahead 1-0.

Minnesota backed off their press a bit in order to better shore up the backline. Midfielder Wil Trapp began dropping deep between the centerbacks in order to slow the tempo a bit and better dictate pace. The Timbers seemed content to sit back and let the Loons try to carve apart a defense that showed itself to be physical and patient. 

Nevertheless, Minnesota had opportunities, particularly from Hansen and Lod. Hansen delivered a tantalizing cross from the left wing in the 24th minute that no one was there to finish, while Lod unleashed a pair of blasts from the top of the box in the 29th and 38th minute that both went wide left. In all, MNUFC took 12 shots to Portland’s three in the first half but only managed one on target. 

Heading into the second half, Portland brought on Diego Valeri for Marvin Loria, likely looking to get more control of the ball wrest the possession back from the home side. Of course, Valeri can also deliver a set piece like few in the league and in the 49th minute, he curled a shot at a tight angle on a free kick that forced Tyler Miller into a full stretch save. 

Head Coach Adrian Heath made his own adjustment, sending on Ethan Finlay in place of Niko Hansen in the 56th minute and once again moving Robin Lod into the false 9 role that paid off handsomely in the second half against Seattle. In the 65th, Adrien Hunou made way for Juan Agudelo and from that point on, the game began to tilt downhill for the home side.

Although the Timbers rotated their squad heavily from their win on Wednesday over LAFC, the tired legs began to show themselves over the last 25 minutes of the game. MNUFC generated chance after chance but struggled to get the ball on frame, occasionally taking one too many or one too few touches or not quite hitting the pass crisply enough. 

But after 10 minutes of relentless attack, pure grit overcame that lack of clinical finishing. Off a corner kick — the team’s eighth of the evening — Hassani Dotson settled the ball on the left wing and waited a beat before sending it back in on a high arc. He found Chase Gasper’s head and the defender put it back across the face of goal for his second MLS goal, drawing the Loons level at 1-1.

Not content to come back to split the points, MNUFC continued to pour on the pace as the Timbers struggled to adjust and claw their way back into the lead. Sebastian Blanco came in for Yimmi Chara for the visitors in the 82nd minute, but before he could make an impact, the Loons leapt ahead.

In the 85th minute, midfielder Emanuel Reynoso — who had come perilously close to finding the perfect pass or pulling off the perfect shot so many times already — picked out Lod with a pinpoint long ball into the box. Lod took one bouncing touch with his right foot before striking it with the left cleanly past Ivacic to make it 2-1.

From there, Minnesota strove to slow the game way down and hold the lead. Tyler Miller did his part, keeping out a strong close-range effort from Blanco in the 87th minute and the rest of the team killed off the clock with some keep away in the corners and consistent possession into stoppage time. When the final whistle blew, the Loons stood victorious, coming from behind to take all three points and clamber ahead of Portland to sixth in the West.

Wil Trapp on getting the points at home before hitting the road…

“I’ve been in the league long enough. To win your home games is the most important thing because on the road you can nick a few points, but if you win at home, statistically and usually it helps you get that springboard into the playoffs. So, for us, two in a row, especially against a team in Portland that’s right under, us was super important. And then knowing that the next game, of course will be difficult in LA, but you give yourself now a good springboard and foundation to step forward into that game Wednesday, with a gritty performance.”

Chase Gasper on any added emphasis on tonight’s game with two road games coming up…

“Oh definitely. Every home game we go in with the expectation to win. Like I mentioned earlier, the 12th man factor in the crowd that we have here. It’s tough with the games coming up, tough road games, so we knew that we needed to get the points here and we executed and that’s exactly what we did.”

UP NEXT

LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Banc of California Stadium | Los Angeles, California
07.28.21 | MLS Week No. 15 | MLS Game No. 15
9:30 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)