The Portland Timbers earned consecutive playoff berths for the first time in their MLS history, clinching a spot in the 2018 playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. Larrys Mabiala, Diego Chara, and Sebastian Blanco all scored for the home side while Steve Clark earned the shutout in goal.
Just seconds into the match the Timbers nearly took the lead when Diego Valeri made a deep run into the visitors goal area, with his high shot from a tight angle being tipped over the bar by Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
It would only take until the 15th minute when the Timbers would break through, when a free kick from 30 yards out by Valeri was met by the foot of defender Larrys Mabiala, who had slipped in behind his defender, and Rimando was unable to keep the shot out of the net and it slipped in just past the post for a 1-0 Timbers lead. The Timbers would control this part of the match and Sebastian Blanco had a good look a few minutes later but his shot was stopped by Rimando.
Just before the half, a corner kick from Real Salt Lake’s Joao Plata found the head of Kyle Beckerman, but his strong header was saved by a reaction save from Steve Clark. The Timbers would hold the 1-0 lead at the half.
Just into the second half, the visitors had a great chance to level the score when a diagonal ball into the box by Sunny found Plata wide open near the penalty spot, but his one-timer was over the crossbar. In the 52nd minute, another corner from Plata found Beckerman once again wide open, this time with a shot from a few yards out that Clark saved brilliantly to keep the Timbers in the lead.
After withstanding several good Real Salt Lake chances, the Timbers started to get a few of their own, and in the 62nd minute, Andy Polo backheeled a pass to Jorge Villafana, who slipped a low pass to a wide open Blanco just eight yards out from a wide open net, but Blanco was unable to keep the shot down and it sailed over the crossbar.
But in the 68th minute, the Timbers would finally double their lead when Blanco made a run down the right side and would slip a pass to a wide open Diego Chara, who knocked the ball past Rimando then tapped into an open net to give the Timbers a 2-0 lead. In the 84th minute, Blanco would have a good chance to widen the lead even more when he turned on a shot from just 10 yards out but Rimando made a great save to keep the lead at two goals.
But just two minutes later the Timbers would get that third goal when Lucas Melano found Blanco streaking into the box, and the Timbers midfielder stopped and put the ball onto his left foot before beating Rimando from 14 yards out to widen the lead to 3-0.
Steve Clark recorded five saves in earning the shutout while Nick Rimando also recorded five saves for the visitors.
Timbers match report | Video highlights
