PORTLAND, Ore. – Over the final 66 minutes of the game, the Portland Timbers failed to register a shot. The team didn’t win a corner kick over the full 90. They gave up nine to Nashville SC. Come Sunday’s final whistle, Portland’s guests had outshot them, 14-3.
Much of that was the function of Sunday’s game state, one that swung in the Timbers’ favor in the 12th minute. After Diego Valeri’s second goal of the season – gifted in large part by Nashville’s right back, Eric Miller, keeping the Timbers captain onside – Portland was able to sit on their lead, limiting Nashville to four shots on target while closing out a 1-0 victory at Providence Park.