PORTLAND, Ore. – The New York Red Bulls’ late-season surge works on West Coast time, too.
Despite a midweek game and subsequent cross-country flight to Portland, the Red Bulls made it five wins in their last seven games to become the first team to book their spot in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs after a 2-0 victory Sunday afternoon over the Portland Timbers.
Thanks to first-half goals from Felipe and Damien Perrinelle, the result at Providence Park vaults New York into first place in the Eastern Conference with 48 points from 28 games, a point clear of Columbus Crew SC, and tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps on points in the Supporters’ Shield race.
This result was all the more impressive as they were without the services of starting defensive midfielder Dax McCarty and right back Connor Lade, who were both serving suspensions.
The Timbers are now winless in their last four – with two losses in that stretch – but remain in the sixth and final playoff spot in the West with 41 points from 29 games, a point ahead of the San Jose Earthquakes and three over Real Salt Lake.
With the Red Bulls press dominating proceedings, the Timbers looked to hit on the counter. This led to a couple of quality opportunities for Maximiliano Urruti and Diego Valeri.
Another open shot for the Timbers, this time from center back Nat Borchers following a corner kick in the 34th minute, went begging for more after it was skied over the bar.
But things quickly unraveled for Portland right before the break.
In the 43rd minute, Felipe took a throw in near midfield, dribbled into space and teed up a right-footed shot from over 30 yards out that knuckled over the reach of Timbers ‘keeper Adam Kwarasey and into the far corner of the net.
RBNY nearly doubled their lead in the first minute of stoppage time when a failed clearance by Borchers led to a tap-in attempt by Gonzalo Veron in front of goal that was saved off the line by Alvas Powell.
But it didn’t matter, as moments later Perrinelle converted a looping header over the reach of Kwarasey on a ball served into the box by Sal Zizzo for a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Red Bulls kept the pressure on out of the break, firing off two shots – the first by Perrinelle and then Bradley Wright-Phillips – that required the work of Kwarasey.
Portland saw several golden opportunities for a goal go by the boards in the waning minutes. First, Luis Robles dealt nicely with two Fanendo Adi headers in the 82nd and 86th minutes. Then, Robles turned in his finest effort of the afternoon, sprawling out to parry away an 87th-minute deflected free kick by Valeri and subsequent Borchers attempt off the rebound to maintain the clean sheet.
The Timbers return to action Saturday on the road against Crew SC (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), while the Red Bulls play host to Orlando City SC on Friday night (7 pm ET, UniMás).
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
