COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Antony Alves Santos and Kevin Kelsy found the back of the net as the Portland Timbers secured a commanding 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening.
The game saw its first crucial moment in the first half’s stoppage time when a miscued attempt by Colorado’s Josh Atencio resulted in an own goal, putting Portland ahead 1-0 heading into halftime.
As the second half commenced just three minutes in, Portland’s lead was doubled with a brilliant right-footed strike by Antony from a central position outside the penalty area. Santiago Moreno provided the assist for this spectacular goal, sending the ball into the middle-left section of the net.
Portland maintained a 2-0 advantage until the 75th minute, when Kevin Kelsy cemented the Timbers’ dominance with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. The ball sailed into the middle-right area of the net thanks to a seamless setup by Jimer Fory, with a secondary assist credited to David Da Costa.
Defensively, James Pantemis played a crucial role for Portland, making two key saves to ensure a clean sheet for the evening. On the opposite end, Adam Beaudry managed three saves for Colorado during the match.
Looking ahead, the Colorado Rapids are set to host Charlotte on March 29, while the Portland Timbers will welcome Houston to their home ground on March 30.
