The Portland Timbers celebrated their 100th sellout with a wild 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake thanks to a first half goal by Fanendo Adi who continues to torment the Utah side with seven goals in seven matches. With the win, the Timbers improve their chances of making the postseason with five games. San Jose (32 points entering the day) and Seattle (31), Portland’s closest threats, drew 1-1 causing both sides to lose ground in the chase to catch Portland. Portland, now at 38 points, remains one back of Sporting Kansas City (39).
The match will be remembered for the bizarre sequence at the end. Referee Drew Fischer lost control of the match and there could be suspensions or fines looming when the game is reviewed by the league’s Disciplinary Committee later this week. During one sequence Portland keeper Jake Gleeson kicked the ball out of bounds for Timbers defender Alvas Powell to have his ankle examined. General soccer etiquette is that the team who kicked the ball out in this circumstance gets to keep it. Instead, Gleeson was issued a yellow card for time wasting.
Gleeson was one of seven yellow cards issued in a match that had a playoff-like intensity.
There was also the sequence of events in which an free kick was awarded outside of the box. It was controversial and the Timbers loudly protested led by an unlikely proponent in Darlington Nagbe. While the protesting continued, RSL players took the ball and dribbled into the goal. The whistle hadn’t blown to allow play to resume so the goal was nullified.
To say matters were getting out of hand was an understatement.
Timbers celebrating 100th consecutive sellout. Once again reminded of all those, including radio coworkers, who said no one would care
— John Strong (@StrongMLS) September 11, 2016
Darren Mattocks returned to the starting lineup
Goal! Fanendo Adi in the 12th minute
Adi took the rebound, shifted to his right foot and found the game winner.
