Revs fall to revitalized Timbers

The Portland Timbers got the vital 3-0 win at home on Friday night they needed to stay in the playoff hunt, while ending any dreams of the postseason still held by the New England Revolution.

Despite several chances, Milton Caraglio failed to find the back of the net on Friday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Diego Chara’s ninth minute goal would’ve been enough, but the Timbers (10-12-6, 36 points) added goals from Kenny Cooper and rookie Darlington Nagbe to come away with a dominating victory over the Revs (5-12-12, 27 points). The three points temporarily more the Timbers into the tenth and final playoff spot.

The Revs started the same line-up that beat FC Dallas 2-0 last Saturday, but it was hard to tell in the 9th minute when a disorganized defense allowed Chara to give the home side the lead. Chara got on the end of a Lovel Palmer cross and easily took a touch past a flat-footed Shalrie Joseph, Franco Coria and A.J. Soares, before tapping it past goalkeeper Matt Reis from just a couple yards out from goal for what would end up as the game-winning strike.

Some impressive shots from two of the Revs most creative attackers, Milton Caraglio and Benny Feilhaber, nearly equalized for the visitors, but Caraglio’s attempt some acrobatic juggling with his back to goal was well saved by Troy Perkins while Feilhaber’s sailed just high.

But it would be the Timbers who would find the back of the net again in the 31st minute. Cooper, who appeared snakebit all night blowing several great chances, got one even he couldn’t miss just past the half hour mark. Mike Chabala blasted a low cross across the goal line that deflected off Cooper, a former Manchester United product, and into the empty net from just a few feet out.

And the Timbers should’ve added more before halftime. Palmer was denied by the post from just outside the box in the 37th minute and ten minutes later a long ball played Nagbe behind the defense, but he couldn’t volley his shot over an onrushing Reis.

The Revs looked a bit better in the second half, but poor shooting and indecision in the final third from Caraglio, the team’s Designated Player, in particular, kept the visitors from testing Perkins.

Nagbe would give the home crowd of 20,323, the expansion team’s 15th consecutive sellout at Jeld-Wen Field, some more to cheer about in the 68th minute. About 12 yards from Nagbe headed a cross from Kalif Alhassan inside the far for the second goal of his young career.

The Revs would hold most of the possession from then on, but Timbers substitute Bright Dike came closest to scoring a final goal in the 81st minute. After being played behind the defense Dike dribbled around Reis, only to see his shot block by Darrius Barnes on the line.

If the loss wasn’t bad enough for New England, the Revs also saw Rajko Lekic and A.J. Soares leave the game due to injury.

The Revs return to action on Sunday, September 25th against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at 4 p.m.