PORTLAND, OREGON, USA — Ariel Lassiter broke Columbus Crew hearts with a clinical 88th-minute finish to hand Portland Timbers a pulsating 3-2 victory at Providence Park in a Major League Soccer clash that had everything — early drama, a first-half leveler, and a late winner that sent the home faithful into raptures. The Timbers, entering the fixture ninth in the standings, showed the kind of resilience and cutting edge that belied their league position, overcoming a Columbus Crew side sitting fifth who had dominated large portions of the contest.
From the first whistle, it was clear this would be no ordinary evening in Portland. Columbus Crew drew first blood inside six minutes when Wessam Abou Ali latched onto a chance and drove a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner, silencing the home crowd before they had barely settled. Portland refused to be rattled. Felipe Mora restored parity in the 14th minute, rifling a right-footed effort from the centre of the box into the top right corner after being teed up by Gage Guerra — a finish of real quality that announced the Timbers' intent. The momentum swung Portland's way further when Antony doubled the lead in the 20th minute, slotting a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner following a sharp fast break, with Cole Bassett providing the assist.
Columbus Crew, to their credit, refused to fold. Wessam Abou Ali — who would prove a constant menace throughout — tested goalkeeper James Pantemis in the 35th minute with a right-footed effort from the right side of the box that Pantemis pushed onto the top of the bar, a crucial intervention that kept Portland's two-goal cushion intact. Then, just before the interval, Diego Rossi struck a superb right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner in the 44th minute, assisted by Abou Ali, to level the contest at 2-2. The first half ended in breathless fashion, with Portland pressing for a third in six minutes of added time but unable to find it.
The second half was a tense, tactical affair. Columbus Crew enjoyed the majority of possession at 54.4% and continued to probe, with Diego Rossi going close again in the 74th and 79th minutes, while Amar Sejdic and Sean Zawadzki also tested Portland's defensive resolve. The Timbers, working hard without the ball, relied on their shape and the individual quality of players like Diego Chará and Brandon Bye to keep the Crew at bay. Kristoffer Velde was lively on the left flank, winning a free kick in the 58th minute after being fouled by Abou Ali — who received a yellow card for his troubles — and forcing Patrick Schulte into a fine save in the 87th minute from a Cole Bassett header.
Then came the moment that decided everything. With two minutes remaining, Kevin Kelsy — introduced as a substitute in the 74th minute — delivered a headed pass into the box, and Lassiter, also a substitute, reacted quickest to drive a composed left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the centre of the goal. Providence Park erupted.
The statistics told a fascinating story. Columbus Crew dominated possession at 54.4% and generated 15 shots to Portland's 12, yet the Timbers registered six shots on target compared to the Crew's four. Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves, while Patrick Schulte was called upon three times. Both sides received one yellow card each in a competitive but largely controlled encounter. The numbers underlined a familiar football truth: efficiency, not dominance, wins matches.
Confidence will be high when Portland Timbers face Colorado Rapids on February 28, while Columbus Crew must dust themselves off before their own trip to Sporting Kansas City on the same date.
