Diego Chara pivots, winds up, and unleashes a strong ball down the right flank. The pass rolls forward across the Providence Park pitch, dropping perfectly between Portland’s Sebastian Blanco, and Colorado’s Edgar Castillo; both players bearing down on the fifty-fifty ball. They clash together, and whether by luck or sheer willpower, Blanco carries the ball through, leaving Castillo able to do nothing but raise his hands in disbelief.
It takes just one touch from Blanco to dribble the ball into the box, glancing up as he settles the ball at his feet.