The Portland Timbers erupted for four goals in twelve minute span of the first half, on the way to a 4-1 win over Nashville SC on a hot evening at Providence Park. Jonathan Rodríguez had two goals for the Timbers, while Felipe Mora and Eryk Williamson added goals. Sam Surridge had the lone goal for the visitors.
In the 11th minute, Nashville had the first good scoring chance on a header by Sam Surridge that was just tipped over the bar by James Pantemis. In the 18th minute, the Timbers would be on the board when Jonathan Rodríguez would make a steal, then near the edge of the Nashville box, slipped a pass to Felipe Mora, who finished with a now shot past keeper Joe Willis, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, the Timbers would double their lead when Juan David Mosquera would mishit a shot at the top of the box, but it fell into the run of Rodríguez, who finished with a shot just inside the far post, and the lead was now 2-0. Then in the 24th minute, then Timbers added yet another goal when Rodríguez made a run across the top of the box, then beat Willis yet again, and the lead was now 3-0.
And the Timbers were scoring like clockwork by this point, and in the 29th minute, the Timbers added a fourth when Santiago Moreno played a pass across the box that was one-timed by a sliding Eryk Williamson, and the score was 4-0.
Just a few minutes later, things would get more difficult for the visitors when Brian Anunga made a dangerous sliding tackle against David Ayala. Initially called a yellow card, but after a VAR review by the center referee, it was upgraded to a red card, and Nashville would be shorthanded for the rest of the match. Nashville did put the ball into the Timbers net in first half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for being offside. The Timbers thought they had a penalty kick chance late in stoppage time, but it was overruled by VAR. The Timber lead at the break was 4-0.
Rodríguez had a great chance in the 58th minute when he controlled the dribble well to get a chance from close-in, but Willis was in position to make the block.
In the 82nd minute, Nashville did end the shutout when Shaq Moore played a nice pass across the goalmouth into the run of Surridge who finished easily into an open net, which made the score 4-1 Timbers. The Timbers had good late chances from Mora and from Antony, but did not score again and the final was 4-1 Timbers.
