http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Troy-Perkins-c35554 steals the show with big saves – MLS News
Portland Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins played a splendid game in the 1-1 draw against his former team, DC United, at RFK Stadium on Wednesday, October 19.
Although the player could not get the much craved win in the away game, the draw still kept his Timbers in race for the playoffs.
Late heroics from Perkins, who played his first three MLS seasons protecting the United’s net, saved Timbers a precious one point. The custodian made six saves in the game but his two stoppage-time saves stole the show. He first denied Joe Ngwenya
from inside the penalty area and then parried away Blake Brettschneider’s follow-up attempt.
The only regret for the goalkeeper is the equalizer leaked to the United striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dwayne-De-Rosario-c11765, in 72nd minute. The Canadian forward intercepted a loose ball, rounded Perkins, and nestled it inside the netting to level
the score line at 1-1.
The Timbers, however, came back into the game right away and provided a strong defensive shift to keep the score line intact until the final whistle.
The stalemate ended the DCU hopes for the postseason, as they are now 4 points behind New York Red Bulls with only the game against Sporting Kansas City at the same venue left in the season.
The Timbers, on the other hand, are mere two points behind the RBNY for the last place in the playoffs. Should they win against Real Salt Lake, and the Red Bulls are defeated by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Philadelphia-Union-c40231, they will advance to the playoffs.
Though it is a tough task for the Timbers, who are playing their maiden MLS season, Perkins and his teammates are hopeful for the best.
“I wanted to win, obviously,” Perkins said. “It would have meant a lot to the club and the guys in this locker room. A point on the road is a point on the road, but now hopefully the result tomorrow goes our way and we can go and get a result against
Salt Lake.”
The Timbers will lock horns with RSL at Rio Tinto on October 22. The result of the match will decide whether they make it to the playoffs, provided the RBNY lose to the Zolos on October 20.
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