#10

Portland Timbers 3, FC Dallas 1

Saturday, April 4 at Providence Park

Everyone has to start somewhere. The Timbers started here, and we will too. 

Portland notched their first win of the year after going winless in their first four contests of the regular season with a win over eventual Western Conference finals opponent FC Dallas. 

The teams traded first-half goals before Maximiliano Urruti found the back of the net in the game's 62nd minute. It would not be the final time these two teams squared off in a crucial match-up.

#9

Portland Timbers 1, Chicago Fire 0

Saturday, August 7 at Providence Park

They didn’t know it at the time, but this win was the start of a wild late-season run for the Timbers. Portland charged from out of contention to earn a playoff spot in a matter of weeks.

They would get that run started against Chicago. Keeper Adam Kwarasey earned one of his league-leading _ shutouts. Fernando Adi, the team’s leading scorer, provided the game’s lone goal.

#8

Portland Timbers 2, Houston Dynamo 0

Saturday, June 20 at Providence Park

This decisive victory was the culmination of an epic turnaround. This victory over conference rival Houston was the final W in a season-best five game winning streak for the Timbers.

Kwarasey and the defense once again came up large in this one, while a pair of Argentines, Maximiliano Urruti and Gaston Fernandez, provided the firepower.

#7

Portland Timbers 2, Vancouver Whitecaps 0

Sunday, November 8 at BC Place Stadium

The Timbers’ cinderella story almost ended in heartbreak in the second round of the MLS Playoffs. Coming into this one, the Timbers needed to win outright after drawing with Vancouver in the fist leg of the matchup.

The Timbers rose to the occasion with an impressive shutout victory. Sri struck once again for the men in green, as did Diego Chara.

#6

Portland Timbers 1, Real Salt Lake 0

Wednesday, October 14 at Tinitio Stadium

Portland took this game and never looked back. It was the first of three straight wins that capped the Timbers’ regular season and earned them a spot in the playoffs. They haven’t lost since.

It was a defensive struggle, with no goals to be found early on. Adi finally broke the tie with a penalty kick after Salt Lake’s Jamison Olave earned a red card for an aggressive tackle on Lucas Melano as he broke into the penalty area.

#5

Portland Timbers 1, D.C. United 0

Wednesday, May 27 at Providence Park

This win turned around the whole season. It was only Portland’s third win in the season’s first 13 games. They would go on to win the next four in a row during the squad’s longest regular season winning streak of the season.

Urruti struck early, finding the back of the net in the game’s fifth minute. It would be all the Timbers needed, as they held on tight for a shutout victory.

#4

Portland Timbers 2, Sporting Kansas City 2 (7-6 a.e.t.)

Thursday, October 29 at Providence Park

This was certainly the most exciting win of the season. The Timbers and Sporting Kansas City battled to a draw during the first 110 minutes of the game, forcing penalty kicks.

Even the tie-breaker needed extra rounds to find a victor. Portland would finally earn a match-up against Vancouver when keeper Kwarasey buried his own try from the penalty dot before stopping a shot to move on to the conference final.

#3

Timbers 3, FC Dallas 1

Sunday, November 22 at Providence Park

This was the big one. Maybe Sunday’s game finalized Portland’s ticket to the MLS Cup against the Columbus Crew, but this game set the Timbers up for success.

Goals from Liam Ridgewell, Dairon Asprilla and Nat Borchers powered the Timbers as they took control of the Western Conference crown in their own stadium.

#2

Portland Timbers 3, Colorado Rapids 1

Sunday October 25 at Providence Park

In the weeks before this match-up, the Timbers were on the outside looking in of the MLS Playoffs. The team caught fire down the stretch however, winning two straight and giving themselves a chance to earn a playoff birth in front of their own fans.

They didn’t let the opportunity pass them by. The Timbers poured in four goals and left no doubt they would be a team not to be trifled with in the playoffs. That reputation is even more cemented now.

#1

Portland Timbers 2, Columbus Crew 1

Saturday, September 25 at Mapfre Stadium

Timber fans will be pointing to this game all week as proof that they can topple the Crew in Columbus on Sunday. They earned an important mid-season result at Mapfre Stadium earlier this year and will look to repeat history this weekend.

Adi’s start shined brightest in this one. He scored two goals, one in each half, and out played Crew striker Kei Kamara, the league’s leading scorer this season. Adi, and the rest of the Timbers, will need to be at their best on Sunday at 4 PM in the MLS Cup on ESPN.