The game in 100 words (or less): The New York Red Bulls became the first team in MLS to clinch a playoff berth thanks to a road win over the Portland Timbers. The Red Bulls were the much better side throughout the first half, controlling possession and dictating the pace of the match, but the Timbers nearly made it to the break tied at zero. That was until Felipe fired a ridiculous shot into the top corner from nearly 40 yards out, before Damien Perrinelle scored in stoppage time to give RBNY two-goal cushion at halftime.
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Three moments that mattered
43' -- Felipe fires RBNY ahead from distance -- Felipe gave the visitors a well-deserved lead with a beautiful long-range strike. Felipe received a throw-in and simply walked up the middle of the pitch before unleashing a shot from nearly 40 yards that sailed into the top corner.
45'+2' -- Perrinelle doubles the lead immediately -- Damien Perrinelle stunned Portland by getting New York’s second goal at the brink of halftime. A high ball dropped into the box, where Perrinelle just got enough on his header to loop one over Larsen Kwarasey to give RBNY a huge two-goal lead.
87' -- Robles makes ridiculous double-save to keep the clean sheet -- Fanendo Adi’s free kick took a wicked deflection off the wall, but Robles still managed to make a fine save. Then with the ball rolling across the line and needing just a tap from Nat Borchers, Robles somehow scrambled to his left to get a hand on Borchers’ touch to keep Portland off the board.
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Man of the match: Luis Robles
Goalscorers: Felipe (43'), Perrinelle (45'+2')