All Good Things Must End

People may not have wanted to admit it, but Sporting KC's winning streak was going to end eventually.  They weren't going to go 34-0, eventually they were going to have a bad night, things weren't going to go their way, or a team was going to come out and beat them.  Last night in Portland, things just didn't go Sporting's way, and the Timber defeated KC 1-0 on an own goal from Chance Myers.

Sporting KC started the game well enough, and Kei Kamara probably should have put KC on top in the 9th minute as CJ Sapong danced along the line and played a ball into the middle for Kamara.  Kamara's shot though was right at Troy Perkins though and he collected the shot.  KC continued to push the game, but couldn't find a goal.  As half got closer, KC seemed to tire a little bit and Portland got more of the game.  And as Portland got more game, Portland forced KC into a mistake that led to a goal.  A long ball was only partially cleared by Matt Besler and was sent back in by Portland.  Kris Boyd ran onto the ball as it headed to the corner.  Boyd played a cross in towards the back post and Darlington Nagbe.  Both Myers and Julio Cesar were racing back to cover the play.  The two though, while watching the ball didn't see each other and collided at the same time.  Myers got a head on the ball, but headed past Jimmy Nielsen and into the net.  Cesar and Myers have to take some blame for not communicating, but Nielsen also needs to bare some responsibility as well.  As a goalkeeper, Nielsen sees the whole field and needs to give a call of warning in that situation as well.  Sapong had a late opportunity off of a Besler throw in, but it was blocked by Boyd.

Almost immediately after half time, Portland should have doubled their lead through Boyd.  Diego Chara started a break and played the ball across the middle to Boyd.  Nielsen though was quickly off his line and deflected the shot wide of goal.  The game opened up as KC looked to find an equalizer, and Portland tried to hit on the counter.  Jack Jewsbury had a good effort deflected wide of the goal in the 66th.  KC kept pushing, but struggled to create good chances.  They really didn't test Perkins enough, the Portland did a good job of shutting down KC's offense before it got through to Perkins, but KC as a whole also looked gassed after the game on Wednesday in Vancouver.  Portland was able to hold off KC's late push, end their 4 game losing streak, and KC's winning streak.

Wizards Man of the Match - Roger Espinoza - Hard to pick a man of the match as KC was flat for much of the night, but Espinoza did a good job of controlling the midfield against the Timbers.

Player Ratings - Nielsen 5, Myers 5, Collin 5, Besler 5, Sinovic 5, Cesar 5, Espinoza 6, Zusi 5, Convey 4, Sapong 5, Kamara 5.  Subs Bunbury 5, Nagamura 5.