The Portland Timbers (0-0-1, 0 pts) fell to Minnesota United FC (1-0-0, 3 pts) in their 2020 MLS Regular Season opener at providence Park on Sunday, March 1st, 2020.

The two teams traded goals early in the second half before Luis Amarilla's first MLS goal and Kevin Molino's second of the night sunk Portland. Diego Valeri's penalty in the 56th minute tied the match at 1-1, but the Timbers' backline was helpless, gifting Minnesota two inconceivable chances later in the second half.

It was Portland's second home-opening loss in MLS, and their first by more than one goal. Here's how it happened.

Lineups

Portland (4-2-3-1)

Steve Clark (GK)

Jorge Villafaña, Dario Zuparic, Larrys Mabiala, Jorge Moreira

Cristhian Paredes, Diego Chará

Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri (c), Yimmi Chará

Felipe Mora

Minnesota (4-2-3-1)

Tyler Miller (GK)

Chse Gasper, Michael Boxall, Ike Opara, Romain Metanire

Ján Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso (c)

Robin Lod, Kevin Molino, Ethan Finlay

Luis Amarilla

Nothing surprising here; They're exactly as I predicted (probably for the first time ever).

Full Match Recap

The anthem had me up and singing from 2,000+ miles away, and FOX decided to interview Chase Gasper and Sebastian Blanco instead of showing the full tifo, but whatever! It's finally Timbers time!

First Half

4' - First real threats of the match go to the Timbers, both created by Blanco with balls in from the left. Valeri nearly had another one before a heavy touch turned it over. Michael Boxall was the key defender on on those clearances for Minnesota.

5' - Felipe Mora went down in the box with an ill-advised challenge from behind by Tyler Miller. Mora's touch was away from goal, but Referee Ismail Elfath was not amused, even after Providence Park's chants for VAR. He still halted play for the check, but no review was given.

11' - Yimmi Chará's runs are impressing me so far. None of them were connected by long balls, but the incisive nature is there, and I like it.

12' - The Jorge fullbacks are pushing really high up. Similar-looking attack for the Timbers so far.

16' - Felipe Mora has been a slightly-more-competent Fanendo Adi so far. His shot from distance sailed wide of Miller's far post, but it showed some great ambition and skill.

17' - Great link-up play in the deep midfield from Valeri and at least one of the Chará brothers to help open space in the attacking half, but it came to nothing.

22' - Amazing work to create a chance from Valeri, Moreira, and Mora, who turned around his defender to send a great ball into the 18, where it was eventually blasted way wide by Blanco.

26' - Minnesota won the first corner of the match, and against the run of play. Clark collected Gregus' corner to spark a Blanco counter down the left, giving Portland a corner of their own that was sniffed out easily by Miller.

28' - Best chance of the game thus far goes to Minnesota. Ethan Finlay's miniature run at the top of the box was offside, but his turn and fire forced a great save from Clark and a reaction from the crowd.

30' - Moreira fired a cross at Minnesota's back line that fell to Yimmi, but he couldn't find space for a shot.

31' - Ozzie Alonso received the first caution of the match after fouling the younger Chará (Yimmi). This aroused a jovial response from the crowd.

33' - Dangerous chance for Amarilla as a corner bounced right in front of him at the back post. He skied it, but it certainly could have been a goal. Not the best start from an MLS debutante who pledged 25 goals this season.

35' - A quick restart from Minnesota ended in a corner. Finlay nutmegged the crap out of Zuparic in the box, but there was never a shot.

27' - Moreira had ACRES of space on the right side at the top of the box, but didn't get a shot off in time. Minnesota went the other way and recovered a free kick out of what looked like a dead chance.

38' - The ensuing deep free kick was nearly connected with the head of Ike Opara, but the counterattack opportunity from Villafaña was ended quickly in Portland's half by a cautioned offense from Romain Metanire. Jorge spent a minute on the ground after a hard fall, but he was back up and running.

40' - Minnesota was clearly the side who had settled into the game better at this point, controlling the possession and thwarting nearly every Timbers attack instantly.

43' - Paredes missed a connecting pass to Blanco and professionally fouled Alonso to prevent an attack to receive a yellow card.

44' - A series of uninventive attacks from Portland. Not a lot of urgency going into the half.

45 +2' - Ball for Finlay down the right needs a slide from Clark, but this was the only interesting event in the last few minutes of the half.

Halftime Thoughts

Not a boring half, but it didn't produce any goals. Kinda like El Clásico earlier today, except Sebastian Blanco isn't exactly Lionel Messi. MNUFC was the better side in the later stages of the half, but there was nothing to indicate a tipping of the scales either direction for the second half. The Timbers will attack toward the North End, though, so hopefully we can get some epic celebrations.

Second Half

48' - Blanco's volleyed cross deflected off Metanire and right to Miller, but it was a product of a competent Timbers move.

50' - MNUFC corner springs a Yimmi counter, but it was sniffed out by Alonso.

51' - What very well could have been a Portland goal turned sour. Finlay (wiiiiiide open) played Amarillo (wiiiiiide open), and Clark's challenge let the ball fall right to Kevin Molino, who scored the easiest goal of his life on an empty net. 1-0 Loons.

53' - Portland answered back with a great D. Chará to Mora to Paredes combo, but Cristhian's shot was not strong enough to beat Miller.

54' - Yimmi found space and then Felipe Mora in the box, who hung on against Ike Opara, whose impatience tangled legs with Mora and gave Portland a penalty from what was not going to be a dangerous chance.

56' - Valeri converted the penalty (19/24 in his career now). 1-1!

57' - Steve Clark saves Portland's skin with a save on a point-blank shot from Robin Lod. Moreira whiffed on a header to create the chance. Plenty of players in the box for Portland; Lod should not be given that kind of space.

61' - Valeri receives a yellow after taking the ball during what was supposed to be a set piece for Minnesota. Gregus may have tricked him into it somehow. Nothing comes from the free kick.

62' - Some similarities shine between the two Charás' games. Yimmi shielded the ball very well from two players before getting fouled in the middle of the attacking half. He also seems to be drifting toward the center of the pitch quite a bit, which is making it even tougher to distinguish the two.

65' - Mabiala had a poor giveaway as Portland tried to create a chance; getting the ball tangled in his feet.

67' - Villafaña was caught miles out of position, and Metanire's cross became a corner.

68' - First substitution of the match as Dairon Asprilla came on for fellow Colombian Yimmi Chará.

70' - Some nice combination play gave Portland a free kick in Valeri range at the top of the box. Valeri hit it into the wall and his second ball out wide was too strong.

71' - Minnesota countered quickly, and the only remaining Chará got his yellow card to stop Amarillo. Gregus' ensuing free kick was dangerous, but didn't test Clark.

74' - Asprilla kills an opportunity with a mindless pass (yes, pass) to Miller. Good job by Mora to play the first time ball into space for Dairon first-time.

76' - Absolutely atrocious defending by all of Portland's back line. Villafaña is gassed by Finlay down the right, Zuparic is caught in no man's land, and Mabiala lets Amarilla get behind him for an open back-post header.

78' - Before you could even look, MNUFC scored once again. This time it was a flick in the box by Finlay that fell right to Molino, who finished it cleanly for his brace. Another severe lack of communication from the Timbers' defense, who practically asked for a shot on goal after letting a hopeful-at-best ball from Finlay fall right into the path of Molino.

81' - First sub for Minnesota: Hassani Dotson on for Kevin Molino.

83' - Second sub for Portland: Jeremy Ebobisse on for Cristhian Paredes. Time for the kitchen sink to be thrown at one of the best defenses in the league.

86' - Portland look lost. Everyone is a bit sluggish: runs aren't being made, passes aren't connecting, and MNUFC were always going to stay content with a two-goal lead.

93' - Mora thought he had scored a great goal, but it was ruled offside. Elfath didn't review it, and the damage was already done. Game over.

Final Thoughts

The attack looks...better. The defense does not.—at all. Zuparic and Mabiala showed no chemistry and Villafaña was dominated by Ethan Finlay.

If the back four improve their communication and competence, the Timbers will have a chance this year. If not... yikes.

Don't get me wrong, Minnesot is a really good team. They played like a playoff-caliber team tonight. But Portland should not be losing this game, especially at basically full strength.

The good news is that the new guys look good—especially Mora. I wouldn't be surprised to see him be the main starter this year up top. his hold-up and distribution was fantastic, and although his late goal was called back, it showed great finishing capabilities.

Next up for Portland is a date with new MLS club Nashville SC at home. Nashville lost to Atlanta at home last week, and this is a match the Timbers should definitely win.