Forward Ryan Johnson scored his first goal of the season in the 80th minute, but the Portland Timbers attempt at a second-half comeback for a second straight match fell just short in a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact before 20,674 fans at a sold-out JELD-WEN Field on Saturday night.
Saturday’s attendance marked the 36th consecutive sellout at JELD-WEN Field since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011.
Trailing at halftime, the Timbers assembled a second-half performance that saw them out-shoot Montreal 11-4 and maintain nearly 65 percent of the possession, which helped them claw back into the match. Portland was able to pull one back late on Johnson’s strike, one of the club’s nine shots over the final 30 minutes of the match. But Montreal was able to make a 60th-minute goal by midfielder Felipe stand as the game-winner to capture a second straight road win.
Felipe and defender Hassoun Camara each scored their first goals of the season, midfielder Andrés Romero recorded his first MLS assist and goalkeeper Troy Perkins earned his second win of the season to help lead the Impact (2-0-0, 6pts).
Midfielder Ben Zemanski logged an assist in his club debut, midfielder Diego Valeri attempted a team-high six shots and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts secured four saves for the Timbers (0-1-1, 1pt). The loss ended Portland’s overall seven-match home unbeaten run, dating back to last season.
Johnson’s goal in the 80th minute initiated Portland’s final push for the comeback. Zemanski, from the right side, sent in a long cross that fell perfectly onto the path of Johnson on a run at the back post. With a sliding effort, Johnson knocked the ball into the back of the net.
The Timbers had three shots in second-half stoppage time, two of which were put on frame. Just before the final whistle, forward Jose Valencia settled a pass inside the box and fired a low shot that went right at the feet of Perkins for the save.
Portland held Montreal to just four shots in the second half, and the Impact went almost 30 minutes during the match without attempting a shot. Ricketts made key plays in the early going to help keep Montreal at bay, including a save in the 11th minute on a bouncing, pointblank header by forward Marco Di Vaio.
The Impact claimed the lead just past the half hour mark. A free kick, played by midfielder Andrea Pisanu from the right side, was played back in front of goal to Camara in the right side of the box. His side-winding shot from 15 yards skipped inside the left post for his second-career MLS goal and a 1-0 lead.
Montreal doubled its lead in the 60th minute. Moments after entering the match as a substitute, Romero chased down a ball played deep in the right corner. He played a cross in at the near post, where Felipe was making a run between Portland defenders, and Felipe one-timed his shot inside the near post.
