Atlanta Too Much To Handle, Timbers Fall 2-0

It was a rematch of the 2018 MLS Cup tonight at Providence Park. But sadly it was the same result for the Timbers as they fell to Atlanta 2-0. With goals from the on-fire Josef Martinez and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Atlanta United rolled past the Timbers in the first meeting between the two teams since last year’s championship.

The Timbers had plenty of opportunities to score tonight, but weren’t able to capitalize. Portland thought they had equalized in the 22nd minute when Valeri chipped a ball into the box that Brian Fernandez got a diving head to, but the goal was called back and replays show he was just slightly offside on the play.

In the first couple minutes of the 2nd half, Atlanta took full control of the match when Julian Gressel knocked a long, diagonal pass into the path of Martinez, who chipped Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark from the top of the box with a beautiful finish. From that point on the Timbers were never able to get back into the match.

Up next, the Timbers host their biggest rival, the Seattle Sounders, on Friday. After that, the Timbers get their longest break in between games in a month, as they will wait eight days before hosting Real Salt Lake on Aug. 31.

Match Highlights: