The Portland Timbers could taste the victory, up 2-1 and just a few minutes from another triumph at Jeld-Wen Field, but Real Salt Lake wasn't ready to play the role of another vanquished opponent.
A late goal from Jonny Steele provided a last-minute equalizer before Kyle Beckerman struck a perfect long-range shot to give Real Salt Lake an improbably 3-2 victory in Portland on Saturday night.
The late rally canceled out a pair of beautiful goals from Darlington Nagbe, who gave Portland a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute. It held up until the 89th minute, when Steele dribbled through the Timbers defense and slotted in the equalizing goal.
Beckerman played the role of hero for RSL yet again when he blasted a 19-yard volley past Troy Perkins in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give RSL their third victory of the season.
Here are the match highlights:
The win improved RSL to 3-1, and a share for first place in the Western Conference, while the loss dropped Portland to 1-2-1, and three straight matches without a win after starting the season with a victory against Philadelphia.
What did you think of Saturday's match? Surprised with RSL's late rally? Think Nagbe is a star in the making? Starting to worry about Portland's recent results?
Share your thoughts below.
Every fan shown in the pic has the expression “Oh ____” on their face..
Nagbe gets a third goal with the missed advantage early on. For shame.
Johnny Steele’s game tying goal was pretty sick too. Touches through traffic and curls it through and around defender and keeper into the corner.
“The Portland Timbers could taste the victory” The nightmare continues…
Nagbe’s second goal was top shelf.
Espindola’s assist on Beckerman’s goal isn’t getting enough run though, he put that on a dime with two guys on him from 25 feet away.
Who does Nagbe represent internationally?
You have to be a winner to write history. Nagbe had the better goal for sure. Hat off from an RSL fan.
And should of gave a red card when that was clear swat at the ball in the box…
Game of the year so far! I can’t wait to see these 2 teams go at it again.
Highly doubt Beckerman’s will make the top 5 list.
Beckerman has claimed he mishit the ball. He got lucky if that was the case.
Great win by RSL. Portland is good but RSL reflects Jason Kreis. They don’t give up.
Irish Steele Cut Oats with a great goal. The volley lob pass from espindola to beckerman was nice. And nagbe could be MLSs next great export.
Really? You think Beckerman’s is better than Nagbe’s? Wow…..
The most MLS aspect of this game was the ref. Didn’t give PDX an advantage that would have had Nagbe 1v1 on keeper, chippy calls at the end etc etc etc
beckerman is a turd. Nagbe should be the headline for this article.
Nagbe’s 2nd goal was amazing – I thought goal of the week maybe goal of thee year then I saw Beckerman’s strike to win the game.
Great game, glad to see RSL come back and take the win. I definitely don’t want to take away from Nagbe’s world class 2nd goal. Pure technique and beautiful.
I think Nagbe will score more than Boyd
Beckerman’s goal was pure class. REAL!
Must plug Nagbe’s class goals. Especially the jaw-dropping second.
It was a game either team deserved to win. Alas, not for my Timbers.
this is good MLS
Great match. End to end action throughout. Nagbe goals were exceptional, but the Royals would not be denied. Here’s to six more points this week against Montreal and the Crapids for RSL.
A very entertaining game.