The Portland Timbers needed at least a point at home vs. LAFC on Sunday to ease their path to the MLS Cup playoffs. They got none.
LAFC won 2-1 at Providence Park on a late goal from Dénis Bouanga, who rifled one home in stoppage time to crush Portland’s hopes of making next week’s match less critical. Now the Timbers (11-9-13, 46 points) need a win or a draw in their finale to make the postseason.
“Heartbroken,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said. “How can I say anything else? We played very well. The first half, we took it to a team that’s the best in the league. ... Yes, they did have two opportunities in the first half, but we dominated them in the first half. The second half was a little more up-and-down.”
Portland brought out a unique starting lineup with five defenders including new arrival Juan Mosquera, making his Providence Park debut, along with Bill Tuiloma, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic and Claudio Bravo. The Timbers also elected to start Jaroslaw Niezgoda and bring Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco and Eryk Williamson off the bench.
The first half was a solid showing for Portland’s switched-up lineup. The Timbers and LAFC were tied, 0-0, through 45 minutes after some competitive play — primarily in the middle third of the field.
Portland’s first chance was in the third minute, a perfect cross in from Bravo to Dairon Asprilla, whose header went just wide of the frame of goal. Bouanga responded two minutes later for LAFC, putting a shot near post that was saved by Aljaz Ivacic.
Mosquera played well in wide positions, setting up his teammates well on crosses and playing at a measured pace with the ball at his feet. His strength and agility defensively stood out, too.
In the 33rd minute, LAFC had its best chance of the half as Carlos Vela got behind Ivacic and fired one on-target, but it was headed off the line by Bravo. Kellyn Acosta had a dangerous chance in the early moments of first half stoppage time, sneaking past a pair of Portland defenders and attempting a chip that was saved well by a reactive Ivacic.
The physicality of the match picked up in the second half, as did the number of scoring chances. Cristhian Paredes picked up a yellow card for Portland in the 48th minute, and two minutes later Niezgoda had a strong shot on-target from outside the box that was saved.
LAFC broke through in the 51st minute on a curling beauty from Vela, a top-shelf shot that was beyond the reach of a leaping Ivacic. That goal made it 1-0 LAFC, but Portland would not lay down in the ensuing moments.
The Timbers had a flurry of chances around the goal between the 55th and 58th minutes, none of which they were able to convert. The play of Bravo and Santiago Moreno shined, however, as did the constant presence of a hustling Dairon Asprilla.
Zuparic earned a yellow card in the 63rd minute for Portland, which means he will be suspended for the regular season finale next week at Real Salt Lake due to accumulation.
Bravo — the true player of the match for Portland — had a pair of strong chances in the 71st and 74th minutes, the first a header on the feed from Mabiala that hit the crossbar. The second was a powerful, long shot that forced a diving save.
“I think it was a loss that was important, obviously, because it could have clinched it for us,” Bravo said. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate, but we’re just going to move forward to the next game and get a result there.”
Portland brought on Williamson and Yimmi Chara in the 75th minute, hoping to inject more of a connecting and scoring punch into their lineup.
The Timbers found it in a man who had played all night: Asprilla. In the 81st, a perfect feed in from Bravo found Asprilla’s head, and he put it in the back of the net with power to tie things up, 1-1.
LAFC brought on substitutes including Gareth Bale, Kwadwo Opoku and Latif Blessing, and Portland brought on Blanco for Moreno.
Bouanga found the net in stoppage time, scoring in the 94th minute on a stunner that sent Portland to the locker room without a single point to show for its efforts.
How will the Timber bounce back from this?
“We will bounce great,” Savarese said with a chuckle. “I hope. We just need to be in the right mindset, get up and fight again. We’re just a team that never gives up. At least the coach is never giving up. I will do my best to make sure the team is as ready as they can be for next week.”
With the loss vs. LAFC, Portland’s playoff hopes rest heavily in next week’s contest. If Portland loses at Real Salt Lake, it will be eliminated from playoff contention. If the Timbers win or draw at RSL, they will clinch a playoff berth no matter what else happens in a crowded Western Conference.
Next up: Portland’s final regular season match is on the road at Real Salt Lake on Oct. 9, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. PT (TV on Fox 12 Plus).
-- Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
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