A magical home opener for the Portland Timbers

Providence Park was explosive Saturday night for the Timbers’ 2026 season home opener against the Columbus Crew. Dynamic lighting mixed with the standard fireworks exhibit upped the drama in the stadium as the teams took the pitch in front of a raucous Timbers Army home crowd. The TIFO was top notch, as expected, with a boombox spanning sections 106 and 107 rising to the rafters, and a mixed tape sliding in front to be loaded into the player in a multi-step choreographed display and banner reading, “You Bring the Magic, We Brings the Noise!”

The Timbers delivered on the magic with an energy filled first half that saw them down a goal within the first 10 minutes, then head into the locker room tied at 2-2 after 45 +6 minutes stoppage time. Columbus took advantage of a poor pass from Velde, intended for Alex Bonetig, to strike first in the 6th minute. W. Abou Ali outmaneuvered Bonetig and Finn Surman to collect Velde’s pass and shoot a low strike into the back right corner of the net. 

Portland keeper, James Pantemis, made a fantastic leaping save in the 9th minute to deny Diego Rossi a goal by one outstretched glove. The Crew also missed on the following corner kick when Andrés Herrera’s one touch shot from the center of the box went high and wide.

Kristoffer Velde took a quick shot off a pass by Antony that forced Patrick Schulte to make his first big save of the match, leading to Portland’s first corner kick of the night. Velde’s service was initially blocked by the Crew but not cleared past Diego Chara. The ball passed around the box before finding Mora in his sweet spot, front and center of goal, for a right footed midair strike to level the score 1-1. 

In the 20th minute, Velde stripped the ball from senior midfielder Dylan Chambost then connected with newcomer Cole Basset, who made a strong run down to midfield, clearing a pass to Antony wide open at the corner of the box. Basset’s pass met Antony in stride and with perfect timing, Antony sent a ground ball right past Schulte, scoring the Timbers’ 2nd goal. 

Schulte did manage to save Velde’s shot time the 25th in the following play after Columbus made their first substitution of the match bringing on a like-for-like player in Amar Sejdić to replace Chambost. 

Portland received the first caution of the night in the 29th minute when defender Brandon Bye, who was signed as a free agent in December 2025, fouled Max Arfsten. 

Columbus dominated possession and the energy on the pitch for the next 15 minutes as they fought for an equalizer before half time. Ali had a shot saved by Pantemis in the 35th, Arfsten’s shot a minute later was blocked by a teammate, Finn Surman blocked Diego Rossi’s attempt in the 40th, eventually Rossi found the goal in the 44th with a brilliant, unexpected strike from the top of the arch. 

Portland had a heartbreaking offside call in the 41st minute when Velde’s goal was called back after he celebrated what he thought was his first goal of the season and the Army had popped smoke. Replay showed he was offside as the pass was initiated in midfield. 

Both teams started the second half with energy and a desire to find the go-ahead goal, but lack of intensity left them without the early success of the first half. The first notable action was a yellow card to Columbus when Ali clipped Kristoffer Velde’s ankle in the 58th minute. 

A Portland corner kick in the 62nd minute almost saw a Diego Chara goal when he collected from outside the box and sent a rocket just over the crossbar. The Crew had a few attempts of their own that were expertly handled by the Timbers defense. 

A big round of substitutions for both teams came in the 73rd minute after a pause in play from a James Pantemis save. Portland brought on Ari Lassiter for Gage Guerra and Kevin Kelsy for Mora.

Columbus made three more attempts at a goal with no success before the next round of substitutions. A shot by Sejdić in the 74th was blocked by Bassett, and two other shots missed their target in the 75th and 79th minutes. The Crew made two substitutions in the 82nd followed by Portland bringing on Joao Ortiz for Antony and Kamal Miller for Bonetig in the 84th.

Portland was awarded a corner kick in the 87th minute that was perfectly executed by Velde. Bassett was there with the header but was unfortunately denied by Schulte. The Crew maintained possession to the midline until a pass downfield, meant for Arfsten, was intercepted by a speeding Diego Chara. 

Portland maintained steady control after Chara’s run. Kamal Miller directed from the back line, and they were able to get multiple plays off in the last two minutes of regulation time. Velde sent a pass in that was cleared by the Crew but collected by Portland in the 88th. Jimer Fory sent a cross to center goal where Kelsy managed to get a brilliant back pass header on it to Lassiter. Lassiter had been making the follow through run from the right and shot the loose ball right into the back of the net. 3-2 Timbers in the 88th minute.

Velde was substituted out for Ian Smith in the 90th for the three minutes of stoppage time. The magical match ended with Portland securing all 3 points at home in front of a boisterous Timbers Army and packed Providence Park.

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