Portland, OR – The Portland Timbers took a big step toward reaching the postseason for the first time in club history on Sunday as Maximiliano Urruti's goal in the 52nd minute was enough for a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy at a rain-soaked Jeld-Wen Field.
Portland entered Sunday's match in third place, but just one point clear of the Galaxy.
However, Urruti tallied his first career MLS goal early in the second half to separate the sides, leaving the postseason prospects for the defending champions very much in doubt, while the Timbers are in a good run of form with 10 points from their last four games.
The weather clearly had an effect on a sluggish first half, and the best chance for either side came in the 26th minute when Landon Donovan laid a pass off at the top of the box for Marcelo Sarvas, whose shoot took a slight deflection and skipped inches past the post.
Portland's play improved after the break and the team went in front in the 52nd minute when Will Johnson drove a corner kick to the near post, where Urruti got just enough of a flick on the ball to send it past goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
The Los Angeles netminder did well to keep out a close-range shot from Rodney Wallace a few minutes later, and the Galaxy nearly snatched a point in stoppage time when Robbie Keane thought he had headed home the equalizer, only for the goal to be ruled out for offsides.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.