Minnesota United had a night to forget as the Portland blitzkrieg rolled all over them.
Minnesota United F.C sounds like a really catchy name for a football club. It really does, it rolls over the tongue nicely, and has a nice vibe to it. Thereas another MUFC across the Atlantic Ocean which has a nice vibe too.
The MLS debutants opened their campaign against the vibrant Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Portland incidentally had not lost a opening home tie since they joined MLS in 2011, their record proclaiming 4 wins and 3 draws. Theyave also sold out Providence Park on every occasion ever. Nice.
The Minnesota defence was cracked in 14 minutes as newcomer Lawrence Olum got at the end of a free-kick. The ball took an almighty bounce, flooring a static defence into submission.
If the first goal looked fishy, the second was standard training ground regimen, Diego Valeri timing his run to perfection to nod in an inch-perfect cross from Sebastian Blanco to render the Minnesota keeper helpless. Not his fault, really.
Minnesota scored their first ever MLS goal in the 79th minute through a side footed shot placed into the right bottom corner courtesy Christian a?Supermana? Ramirez.
Three minutes later, Portland made it 3-1, via a penalty won by Fanendo Adi and finished expertly by Diego Valeri, who got his second on the night. It was the goal which killed the tie, as Portland looked content to absorb any further Minnesota pressure. As the final whistle loomed large, Fanendo Adi waltzed casually to add Portlandas fourth and fifth of the night. gt;
