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.