KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Portland Timbers' chances of reaching a second MLS Cup final were on life support when they returned to their locker room after 45 minutes on Thursday night, the team having been exposed to the full ferocity of the Western Conference’s top regular season finisher. A Sporting Kansas City performance that saw the night’s hosts reach intermission with a 1-0 lead and a stifling momentum that produced two other goals, waved off, left Giovanni Savarese’s team in shock.
Then, with an effort few could have foreseen after the lopsided first half, Portland put the match on a different course.