Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

PORTLAND, OREGON - Sep 7, 2014 - Portland Timbers play the San Jose Earthquakes, Sun, Sep 7, 2014, at Providence Park, in Portland, Oregon. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

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Darryl Dyck/AP Photo

Best Timbers Win: Timbers move into fifth place with 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps on Aug. 30

On Aug. 30, Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter made a key move by inserting left back Jorge Villafana and right back Alvas Powell into the starting 11. The move allowed Portland to pressure and attack the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. After an even first half, the Timbers broke through in the second half. Powell scored Portland's first goal as the Timbers went on to win 3-0 and move above the red line and into fifth place in the Western Conference with eight games left to play in the season.

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Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian

Best Thorns Win: Beating the Seattle Reign on the last day of the season to earn a playoff berth

The Portland Thorns had some up and down performances in 2014, but they definitely looked like one of the best women's soccer teams in the world on Aug. 17. The Thorns beat the top team in the NWSL in rival Seattle Reign behind a second half goal from forward Alex Morgan on the final day of the season. The win allowed Portland to clinch a berth to the NWSL playoffs.

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Best Timbers Goal: Fanendo Adi's amazing flick leads to Will Johnson's goal

The Portland Timbers were down 4-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps on June 1 when midfielder Diego Valeri rocketed a long cross into the box in the 86th minute. Timbers forward Fanendo Adi juggled the ball twice with his back to goal, before flicking it off to midfielder Will Johnson, who sent the ball into the net. The goal was the runner up for 2014 MLS Goal of the Year.

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Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian

Best Thorns Individual Performance: Christine Sinclair's hat trick leads Portland to victory

It took Portland Thorns captain Christine Sinclair awhile to get her scoring touch back during the 2014 season, but she certainly had no problems finding the back of the net on July 20. Sinclair recorded the first hat trick in Thorns history to lead Portland to a 6-3 win over the Boston Breakers in front of a national television audience.

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Dave Killen

Our Favorite Timbers Article: Diego Valeri Here to Stay

Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri made the decision to leave his home country of Argentina after being robbed at gun point while he was with his wife and young daughter. Since moving to the United States, Valeri has grown to embrace Portland as his home. Timbers reporter Jamie Goldberg wrote about Valeri's story in an Oct. 9 profile.

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Our Favorite Thorns Article: For Alex Morgan, patience is paramount

Portland Thorns forward and U.S. Women's National Team striker Alex Morgan missed seven months from 2013-2014 as she recovered from a lingering ankle injury. The long recovery time tested her resilience and determination as an athlete. Oregonian reporter Geoffrey Arnold wrote about Morgan's story in a July 18 article.

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Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

Our Favorite Article About Fans: Timbers Army faithfuls wed at Providence Park

After gay marriage was legalized in Oregon in 2014, Timbers Army faithfuls Heidi Koenig White, 45, and Sunday Renee White, 40 decided that they should finally get legally married. The couple had celebrated their first wedding ceremony in 2007, but the wedding wasn't legally recognized. This time around, Sunday and Heidi decided to get married in green and gold at Providence Park right before a Timbers game. Timbers reporter Jamie Goldberg wrote about Sunday and Heidi's wedding in an October 18 article.

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Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

Best Oregonian Photo: Bayern Munich goes on U.S. tour

Over the summer, Bayern Munich competed throughout the United States before taking on the MLS All-Stars on Aug. 6 at Providence Park. Some of the world's top players competed for Bayern Munich. In this picture, winger Franck Ribery takes a corner kick under the glaring lights at Red Bull Arena.

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Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian

The MLS All-Stars convinced Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri to lead them onto the field for warm ups before the Aug. 6 match. But when Valeri ran out onto the field, none of his teammates followed. Valeri stood alone on the field waving to fans while his teammates laughed from the tunnel.

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Best Quote of the Season: Will Johnson says his team has the 'brain of a goldfish'

After the Portland Timbers came back to tie the Columbus Crew 3-3 on May 17, Timbers captain Will Johnson was asked to describe his team's resolve on live television. Johnson gave probably the most unqiue answer of the season when he said, "We've got the heart of a lion but the brain of a goldfish at times."