The Portland Timbers got off to a bad start to the season and were hoping that being back at JELD-WEN Field would give them the boost they needed. Early on, it looked like it worked. They scored first for the first time this season and had the home crowd behind them, but even that was not enough to pick up the win. Chivas USA mounted a second half comeback to pick up a 2-1 win and leave the Galaxy all alone in the Western Conference basement.
Portland Timbers Vs. Chivas USA, 2012 MLS: Goats Come Back For 2-1 Victory
Chivas was kind enough to gift the Timbers their opening goal. A long ball was floated up for Dan Kennedy to collect 15 yards from goal, but when he left for it, he crashed into his teammate, James Riley. Kennedy did get two hands on the ball, but the contact caused him to drop it. The ball fell right to Kris Boyd, who knocked the ball in the empty net and Portland was in front.
That 1-0 Timbers lead would last through halftime, but the second half was all Chivas. Just three minutes into the second stanza, Ryan Smith got free down the left and delivered a pinpoint ball to Alejandro Moreno. The veteran nodded the ball home and the match was all even.
The Goats kept pressing and in the 82nd minute they got their winner. Once again, Smith played creator as he crossed first touch right to the penalty spot. Portland was passive on defense, allowing Nick LaBrocca to come steaming in and head the ball into the side netting for three points.
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