Portland Timbers hold off late Sporting Kansas City onslaught to secure win

Marvin Loria's goal in stoppage time in the first half lifted the Portland Timbers to a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at Providence Park. Portland survived an SKC offensive onslaught in the second half.

Sporting KC played the entire second half on the front foot, but they couldn't capitalize. Sporting KC saw their four-match unbeaten streak snapped.

Portland finally earned a result when conceding the first goal. They had been 0-4-0 in that situation so far in 2021.

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Sporting had an 8-0 advantage in corners and a 13-1 shot advantage in the second half. SKC kept the pressure on the Portland defense in the second half, keeping the ball in the Portland end for several minutes at a time. But they couldn't get a goal past keeper Steve Clark.

Larrys Mabiala came on as a substitute in the 70th minute and slowed the attack of Sporting in the final 20 minutes.

Sporting grabbed the lead in the 28th minute on Jaylin Lindsey's second goal of the season. Alan Pulido recovered a loose ball on the left side of the box and fed it across the box to Lindsey, who found the top of the net against Clark.

Once the Timbers allowed the goal, they picked up the pace. They had several scoring opportunities before Dairon Asprilla right-footed a shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner in the 36th minute. The chance came as a result of a set piece.

Portland then claimed the lead in the minute of stoppage time when Loria left-footed a shot from very close range after the ball got past Sporting keeper Tim Melia.

Sporting controlled the stat sheet in the first half, owning 65 percent of the possession. But Portland led in the only stat that mattered.