Portland defeats Chivas USA, 3-0

May 12, 2013

Chivas USA fell 3-0 to the Portland Timbers on Sunday afternoon at Portland's JELD-WEN Field following goals by Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri, and Will Johnson.

Making his first career MLS start, Chivas USA goalkeeper Patrick McLain denied Portland’s attack on a number of dangerous early looks at goal. He made his first big stop in the 10th minute when a header attempt forced him to make a last-second save across his body after a cross was sent in from the left side.

McLain came up big again in the 25th minute when Portland’s Jack Jewsbury sent a cross from the right side of the box to a cutting Ryan Johnson, who then headed the ball from inside the short area. However, McLain was able to deny the threat at point-blank range.

The Rojiblancos generated several chances at goal in the first half, as Giovani Casillas sent a quality ball from the right sideline off a free kick in the 22nd minute. Unfortunately for Chivas USA, Mario de Luna’s header sailed out of bounds.

Portland eventually went ahead in the 34th minute and never looked back, after Wallace’s chip shot went over McLain from inside the box.

The sequence started after Chivas USA could not convert on a corner kick, as Portland ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts' quick outlet pass ignited a counter-attack. Midfielder Ryan Johnson worked the ball into the attacking third and chipped a pass over the top of the Red-and-White defense to a finishing Wallace.

Playing a goal down in the second half, Chivas USA continued to push their attack forward in search of the equalizer. However, it would be the Timbers who would do all the damage on this day.

In the 70th minute, the Timbers' Valeri tapped in his shot past McLain just outside the short area off a Wallace assist to increase the lead to 2-0.

Chivas USA midfielder Martin Ponce, who also made his MLS debut, almost cut the deficit in half in the 78th minute when he received a threaded pass from Avila near the right sideline in the attacking third, and worked the ball from the right side of the box toward the short area. Ponce's shot was accurate and inside the near post, but Ricketts was there to get a hand on it.

As the match entered stoppage time, the Timbers put the exclamation point on the victory on Will Johnson’s right-footed strike just outside the box. The shot found the inside of the right post past a diving McLain to his left for the final 3-0 marker.

With the loss, the Rojiblancos dropped to 3-5-2.  Chivas USA now returns home to continue their Western Conference play when they host Real Salt Lake on Sunday, May 19, at The Home Depot Center beginning at 7:30 p.m. (PT).

Scoring Summary
POR Rodney Wallace 3 (Asistencia / Assist: Ryan Johnson 3, Diego Valeri 3) 34'
POR Diego Valeri 3 (Rodney Wallace 2, Darlington Nagbe 1) 70’
POR Will Johnson 4 (Kalif Alhassan 2, Diego Valeri 4) 90’ + 2

Misconduct Summary:
CHV Carlos Borja (Yellow) 73'
CHV Mario de Luna (Yellow) 86’


By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and news services

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