Portland Timbers open MLS season with 1-0 win over Sporting KC

It took two days longer than expected, but the Portland Timbers finally opened their 13th MLS season Monday night at Providence Park.

In just his fourth MLS game, 20-year-old right-back Juan David Mosquera scored his first goal for the Timbers, which was deemed the winner as Portland Sporting beat Kansas City 1-0.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but the historic winter storm that hit the Portland area over the weekend forced it to be postponed. Conditions were still difficult on Monday, with rain and temperatures hovering in the mid 30’s.

But the Timbers started quickly and nearly scored in the fifth minute before conceding with Mosquera’s goal about a minute later. They didn’t get another shot on goal deep into the second half, but defensively it was enough to keep a clean sheet and pick up three points.

The game marked the MLS debut of midfielder Evander, the Timbers’ only major offseason acquisition, who signed for a record fee.

The 24-year-old Brazilian played the entire 90 minutes, showing brief bursts of skill but mostly staying calm as the Timbers failed to mount a major attack after the first few minutes.

The Timbers took advantage of SKC’s poor defensive play to secure the early lead. Mosquera got the better of a defender at the baseline and won the ball back to Yimmi Chara, who returned it with a low shot in the sixth minute to Mosquera, who went under goalkeeper John Pulskamp and into the net.

Portland almost went ahead just under a minute earlier when Jaroslav Niezgoda stole an SKC back pass up in the box and was left alone on Pulskamp. But the keeper was able to get the ball away from Niezgoda and save a follow-up shot from Marvin Loria.

And in the closing minutes, with SKC pushing for a late equalizer, Timbers substitute Juan Fogaca worked easily on a breakaway in second-half injury time. But Pulskamp came off his line to deny Fogaca.

Veteran goalkeeper David Bingham, who started for Portland for the third time in two seasons, endured a tremendous test in the 24th minute, repelling a shot from SKC’s Erik Thommy from close range and a counter-attack by Thommy on target steered the bar . Bingham made another save against William Agada in the 77th minute but was otherwise unmolested in the second half until a last-minute header sailed wide of the near post in the first minute of added time.

In one of the few discouraging moments of the Timbers’ opening game, Chara fell to the turf in the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury. He received treatment on the field but was unable to continue and was replaced by Santiago Moreno in the 33rd minute.

With Portland already missing attacking players Sebastian Blanco, Felipe Mora and Dairon Asprilla through injuries, the Timbers would be further hampered if Chara is forced to miss time.

— Scott Sepich, for The Oregonian/OregonLive