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Steve Clark had a first-half penalty, Sebastian Blanco and Diego Valeri scored, and the Portland Timbers won their third straight road game with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night in Utah.
Portland beat RSL for the third time in a row, having played two consecutive games last October, and tied them with 10 points apiece while the Timbers continue their 12-game trek for the opening of the season.
Real Salt Lake had the chance to take advantage in the 26th minute, when a penalty kick was awarded for a handball by Zarek Valentin after the video review. But Clark, who started his second game in a row, plunged hard on his right to prevent Albert Rusnak's shot from scoring.
Portland quickly took the lead at the other end of the field when Sebastian Blanco got a right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area in the Salt Lake penalty area. Andrew Putna saved the initial shot, but Blanco – who burned Salt Lake City with three goals and two assists in two games in October last year – jumped for the first time to bring in the balloon on the left.
Real Salt Lake responded in the second half, while Jefferson Savarino's film seemed to surprise Sam Johnson at the top of the penalty area, but the Liberian-designated player recovered to use his second touch on a 15-yard strike that overtook Clark. and banked off the left post to equal the score.
However, Portland reacted quickly to regain control by capitalizing on a blanket Putna to generate another shot in the penalty area for Blanco. Blocked by Justen Glad, the ball fell to Valeri's right, who approached to perform a technically perfect shot with the outside of his right foot, hitting him through the legs of one. defender and just inside the far post. Valeri became the ninth player in the history of MLS with 70 goals and 70 assists in the regular season.
Real Salt Lake sent attacking players to the field looking for a tying goal, but never got close to 73-minute striker Sebastian Saucedo, who was sidelined by Clark, who realized six stops.
goals
- 34 – POR – Sebastian Blanco | WATCH
- 62 – RSL – Sam Johnson | WATCH
- 68 – POR – Diego Valeri | WATCH
Three things
- THE GREAT IMAGE: Portland has won four career games in the 2018 regular season, but the Timbers have won their third straight away game at home and have managed to catch up with Real Salt Lake, which has had the relative luxury to play four home games in the Western Conference standings. The Timbers have limited their opponents to one goal for the third consecutive game after scoring several goals in the first six matches, undeniable sign that Giovanni Savarese's team is starting to end up.
- MOMENT OF THE GAMEReal Salt Lake looked set to be in first position midway through the first period, but Clark was well prepared for his fifth career stoppage against 17 penalties, leaving Rusnak 5-for-7. The goal of the match came eight minutes later, and Real Salt Lake has always seemed to be chasing afterwards.
- MAN OF THE GAMEClark Blanco continued to torment Salt Lake City and Valeri continued to be an absolute class, but goalkeeping made all the difference at night and Clark excelled everywhere. He may have got the job at Jeff Attinella, at least for now.
following
- RSL: Saturday May 11th in Colorado (9pm ET / MLS LIVE on ESPN + in the US, DAZN in Canada)
- POR: Friday, May 10th in Vancouver (10pm ET / MLS LIVE on ESPN + in the US, TSN in Canada)
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