#PORvSKC – MLS Western Conference Championship Match
Portland Timbers travel to Sporting Kansas City for the decisive second leg on Nov. 29
Two top MLS teams battled but neither could gain the desperately desired advantage as the game finished scoreless at Providence Park on Sunday night. Complete with a disallowed goal, this match had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
The Portland Timbers hosted rival Sporting Kansas City in an exciting match that played out to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
With 21,144 fans at Providence Park cheering in the cold, the players broke a sweat on Sunday’s pitch as the action was stop and start with cards flying.
Sporting Kansas City will host the Timbers on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Children’s Mercy Park with the kick off at 6:30 PM. The match will be broadcast on ESPN.
Western Conference Final Leg 2 #PORvSKC is a game to watch.
The first leg of this Western Conference marked Portland’s ninth clean sheet in 19 home MLS matches, including playoffs, during the 2018 season.
With this draw, Portland concluded its 2018 home campaign unbeaten in its last seven matches (5-0-2) at Providence Park, including playoffs, while registering five shutouts during that span. The Timbers posted a record of 14-2-5 in all competitions at Providence Park in 2018.
Portland’s Diego Valeri finished the match with seven chances created, which is tied for the second-most chances created by a Timbers player in an MLS playoff game. Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia was outstanding defending the net, soaring into the air to stop the ball numerous times.
According to Sporting KC, Matt Besler, Tim Melia, Johnny Russell, Graham Zusi and the rest of top-seeded Sporting KC turned the lights out on Portland in their home. Now, with the home field advantage,
Sporting KC will play the second leg in front of their fans with MLS Cup on the line.
Sporting KC fans are excited that any win on Thursday will see their side advance to its first MLS Cup since winning the championship at Children’s Mercy Park in 2013.
If the second leg match’s 90 minutes end in another scoreless draw, fans will see the two sides head to extra time and potentially penalty kicks if the score is still tied after 120 minutes.
Jorge Villafaña nearly provided an opener minutes into the match with his weak foot, as a clearance fell to his right foot and he whistled it past the SKC defense and Tim Melia but it banged off the post instead of settling into the back of the net.
Click to read Sporting KC Recap and Portland Timbers FC Recap
