The Portland Timbers halted their losing run in MLS by picking up two positive results over the past week.
The Timbers defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Providence Park in midweek play before fighting back to tie Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle Sounders 2-2 on Saturday. Portland is now only four points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, earning SBI Team of the Week honors for their positive performances in a busy week.
Santiago Moreno led the way against RSL by scoring the opening goal and assisting on Felipe Mora’s second-half strike for an important home three points. Despite the Timbers conceding a late goal for Cristian Arango, it was a huge result for Portland to snap a four-match losing streak in all competitions.
In Saturday’s trip to Lumen Field, the Timbers responded in a big way after going into halftime down 2-0. Dairon Asprilla scored just moments after coming onto the pitch in the second half before Evander Ferreira equalized just three minutes later.
Although the Timbers didn’t walk away with a full three points, a comeback draw was still a goos result for the club.
Portland will be one of the few teams playing during the international break, welcoming defending MLS Cup Champions LAFC to Providence Park on Sept. 9
FC Cincinnati, Orlando City, and the New England Revolution also earned honorable mentions for their performances.
Here is a closer look at the rest of Week 25’s Best of MLS:
Player of the Week
The Columbus Crew rebounded on Saturday night in Montreal with Cucho Hernandez stealing the show once again for Wilfried Nancy’s squad.
Hernandez registered a hat trick in a 4-2 road victory over CF Montreal, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second half. Hernandez’s first goal came in the 22nd minute as the Colombian headed home Diego Rossi’s cross for a 2-0 Crew scoreline at the time.
Yaw Yeboah set up Hernandez for his second goal of the half as Columbus took a 3-0 advantage into halftime at Stade Saputo.
Despite CF Montreal cutting its deficit to 3-1, Hernandez would cap off his hat trick from the penalty spot just after the hour mark.
Hernandez now has nine goals and 10 assists in MLS play this season, helping fill the void left by Lucas Zelarayan’s departure for Saudi Arabia.
Tomas Chancalay, Emanuel Reynoso, and Christian Benteke also earned Player of the Week Honorable Mentions.
Goal of the Week
The Portland Timbers left Seattle with a comeback draw against the rival Sounders and they can thank Evander Ferreira for a bit of magic along the way.
Ferreira’s stunning right-footed curler helped tie the match at 2-2, giving the Timbers a positive result against one of their fellow playoff chasers. Nobody covered Ferreira in the middle of the field, allowing the Brazilian to line up a shot and connect into the top-right corner.
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba connected on the left wing before Alba’s flicked pass in the Red Bulls box found Messi. Messi’s curling pass to the right wing allowed Cremaschi to find space before setting up Messi for a 2-0 dagger.
The result moved the Herons off of last place in the Eastern Conference and extended their unbeaten run to nine matches this summer.