The Portland Timbers did have an early lead in Minnesota, but could not hold onto it, and ended up at the short end of a 2-1 result against United. Jonathan Rodríguez had the lone goal for the Timbers, while Robin Lod and Jeong Sang-bin had the goals for the hosts.
In the 22nd minute, Minnesota had a great chance to grab the lead when Joseph Rosales made a nice nutmeg move on Miguel Araujo, then fed a pass to a wide-open Teemu Pukki, but this golden chance resulted in a shot just wide past the right post.
Then in the 17th minute, the Timbers would grab the lead when David Ayala played a nice ball into the run of Jonathan Rodríguez, who had beaten the offside trap, and he slipped the shot past a charging Dayne St. Clair, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.
After Minnesota continued to control possession for much of the half, though with very little in terms of threatening to score, the Timbers had another great chance late in the half when Rodríguez had a great breakaway chance after a Minnesota defender carelessly lost possession, but St. Clair charged out of his box and saved the chip attempt with a brilliant header.
In the 51st minute, the Timbers nearly had a second goal on another breakaway, when Felipe Mora slipped in behind the United defense, but this shot attempt was off the crossbar. Minutes later Minnesota’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane had another great look, but his shot was right at Maxime Crépeau.
But in the 65th minute, United would finally break through when the Timbers failed to stop an attack from the corner, and Rosales passed across to goal to Robin Lod, who redirected the ball into the Timbers net, and the score was now 1-1.
A few minutes later Minnesota was awarded a penalty kick, but after VAR review, a foul was called on Minnesota leading up to the play, and the penalty kick was waved off.
But in the 82nd minute, Minnesota did get that second goal, when DJ Taylor slipped a pass across the box to Jeong Sang-bin, who finished with a nice one-touch shot, and Minnesota now lead by a 2-1 score.
Minnesota had a few chances at an open Timbers net late in the match after the ball had squirted loose after a corner kick, but the best chance from just a few yards out was off the crossbar.
But then just as stoppage time began, Minnesota’s Miguel Tapias was shown his second yellow card, and the Timbers would finish the match with a player advantage.
The Timbers had a few decent scoring chances late, but St. Clair made some good late saves, and the Timbers ended up on the short end of a 2-1 result.
