Portland was the place to be in Major League Soccer at the weekend as the Timbers hosted San Jose Earthquakes with both teams hoping to win to book a play-off berth. Stakes were high, the atmosphere was bouncing and there were a bunch of bearded blokes chopping up wood pitch-side. That's more than enough going on to make it the latest stop on our 'Framed' series.
The hosts, buoyed by a 33,000 crowd, were looking to end a five-match winless streak to book a place in the play-offs and the duly did the business to see off their guests 3-1 and finish the season in 6th place. Portland's Larrys Mabiala settled the nerves for the hosts before the all-time MLS leading scorer Chris Wondolowski equalised for San Jose before the half time. After the break the pressure from the home side finally told as Dairon Asprilla put them in front, before Sebastián Blanco curled home a free kick to all but book that final play-off spot.
With the final whistle confirming that the Timbers' season continues into the play-offs, the wood chopping, stump presentation and wrestling belt wielding begun. Obviously. The Timbers will now play on either Saturday 19th October or Sunday 20th October in the first round of the MLS playoffs. Chainsaws at the ready for that one.
Photography by Grace Stufkosky for SoccerBible.
