Timbers stay alive in the playoff race after an in-extremis 3-2 win over Charlotte FC

Portland can only win; they will depend on other teams’ results, as these three points still leave them 3 more (4 with LA Galaxy drawing against LAFC), with only 9 points left to play for.

The puzzle of qualifying and disqualifying scenarios keeps narrowing; one thing that doesn’t change is the need to win. Every game is a Final; Decision Day is all three games remaining until November 7th. Any setback against St. Louis City, Houston, or Austin would only complicate the variables in an equation that is starting to look seriously hard to resolve in the Rose City’s favor. 

Saturday night showdown with Charlotte FC was the first of these four challenges. The visitors sat fifth in the East Conference and looked to rubber-stamp their almost certain ticket to the postseason. They opened the scoring very quickly, in minute 3, with a goal by Pep Biel. The Spanish midfielder stunned Providence Park, but whatever ails Portland and has landed them on the wrong side of the playoffs cutoff line has never been a lack of attitude, and Portland got to work. Young academy player Eric Izoita, a 19-year-old central midfielder, would serve winger Ariel Lassiter in the 11th minute, then again in the 40th, to put Portland ahead 2-1 before halftime. 

Portland’s onslaught didn’t end there, but they couldn’t quite put in a third goal, and Charlotte stayed in the game. They didn’t have a big attacking presence, but they were much more clinical On one of their counted pushes past the three-quarters line, forward Idan Toklomati restored parity, finishing a cross from Luca de la Torre in the 69th minute. Again, Portland found itself on the verge of disaster: a draw wouldn’t mathematically exclude them from the playoffs, but the postseason math would get that much more complicated.

Timbers kept pushing as the fans, far from discouraged, kept cheering them on. Timbers boss Martí Cifuentes refreshed the attack, bringing Cole Basset in for Eric Iziota in 64’, and Alexander Aravena for Vincent Jansen, and Omir Fernández for Ariel Lassiter in 84’. The pressure on the goal defended by Kristijan Kahlina increased, sandwiched between Portland’s attack and the North End fans, all giving it their all. Portland attacked with more attitude than clarity, and Charlotte’s defensive order started to shake. The game was being played entirely on Charlotte’s last third. 

Well into the last grasp of stoppage time, Timbers midfielder Cole Bassett headed in a corner by Ian Smith to the opposite post, between keeper Kahlina and substitute defender Harry Toffolo, and found Timbers forward Alexander Aravena, who headed into the net for the final 3-2. The goal came past the edge of regulation, and the celebration turned to relief that Portland got to keep fighting one more week.

With no time left after the goal, Charlotte will have to wait one more game to see the “clinched” graphic on their Jumbotron when they receive Montreal this Wednesday. Portland will keep fighting on in St. Louis the same day. 

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