PORTLAND, Ore. – The reminder doesn’t make the game any less frustrating, nor the implications of Sunday’s result any less meaningful. But this happens, games like this. Even the best teams in the world find themselves trying to pullback a freak goal, left reminded of one of the most brutal, debilitating realities of the sport: When you’re only tasked with preventing goals, soccer becomes a much, much easier sport.
Such was the case after a first-half own goal left the Portland Timbers chasing visiting D.C. United, but whereas the team was able to overcome similar circumstances last week against Sporting Kansas City, on Sunday, the guests were able to hold out.