Timbers draw is keeper for Real Salt Lake

PORTLAND — If it were hockey, the saying would be that Nick Rimando stood on his head on Saturday at Providence Park.

The Real Salt Lake goalkeeper, with some help from his defense during a frenetic finish, denied the Portland Timbers a goal as the teams played to a scoreless draw while opening their 2015 Major League Soccer season in front of 21,144 fans.

The Timbers were the more dangerous team throughout the night. They earned 11 corner kicks and did not concede a single one. But the several times they appeared to break through, Rimando or an RSL defender found a way to get in the way.

In a frenzied final minute, the Timbers took multiple shots from in and around the 18-yard box. But the one shot that eluded Rimando was cleared from the goal mouth by a red-clad defender.

Earlier in the second half, Rimando made the most dramatic of his five saves, reacting to deny Rodney Wallace, who took a quick left-footed shot from six yards in front of the goal.

Portland opened the season without the heart of its midfield. In addition to the absence of Will Johnson and Diego Valeri because of last season’s injuries, Diego Chara did not suit up on Saturday. That meant the Timbers were without their most creative attacker and their preferred pair of holding midfielders.

Despite that, the Timbers were the team on the attack.

They outshot RSL 18-9, and sent 32 crosses into the box. Portland was dangerous on counter-attacks, and in the second half was able to build the attack.

But in the end, Rimando and RSL did not cave into Portland’s pressure.

The teams combined for 41 fouls and five cautions in a match that had plenty of opening-night passion. Portland did generate several dangerous chances in the first half, the best a header by Dairon Asprilla in the 29th minute that Rimando beat but flashed just outside the left post. In the 41st minute, Wallace got a foot to a free kick but his deflection bounced right to Rimando.

The result: Timbers 0, Real Salt Lake 0.

The significance: It is the first of 34 regular-season matches. But given the slow start to last season, and the fact that Portland was missing three top midfielders, it was a strong performance against a well-organized defense and a talented goalkeeper.

Moment of the match: In the 53rd minute, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando made a reaction save on a Rodney Wallace shot from 6 yards in front of goal.

Noteworthy: The Timbers are 2-0-3 in home openers. In their first four MLS home openers, they scored 11 goals, an average of 2.75 a match. This was the only league visit to Portland this season for RSL. There were zero offside calls in the match.

Lineup notes: Four starters made their Timbers MLS debut on Saturday. In addition to goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and center back Nat Borchers, Dairon Asprilla got the start on right wing and George Fochive started for the injured Diego Chara. Gaston Fernandez replaced Asprilla for the final 30 minutes, with Nagbe moving from the middle to the right wing. The Timbers started their expected back four, with Jorge Villafana at left back, Alvas Powell at right back, and Borchers to the right of Liam Ridgewell in central defense. Up front, Fanendo Adi played 82 minutes before Maximilliano Urruti replaced him.

Up next: The Timbers host the L.A. Galaxy at 4 p.m. on March 15.

TIMBERS 0, REAL SALT LAKE 0

Real Salt Lake 0 0–0

Portland 0 0–0

First half–None.

Second half–None.

Goalies–Real Salt Lake, Nick Rimando; Portland, Adam Kwarasey.

Yellow Cards–Mansally, Real Salt Lake, 27th; Powell, Portland, 32nd; Gil, Real Salt Lake, 45th+; Schuler, Real Salt Lake, 48th; Ridgewell, Portland, 57th.

Referee–Ismail Elfath. Assistant Referees–Ian Anderson. Jeff Hosking. 4th Official–Juan Guzman.

A–21,144 (20,000)

Lineups

Real Salt Lake–Nick Rimando, Abdoulie Mansally, Chris Schuler, Tony Beltran, Jamison Olave, Luis Gil (Devon Sandoval, 88th), Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Olmes Garcia (Jordan Allen, 81st), Alvaro Saborio, Sebastian Jaime (Luke Mulholland, 64th).

Portland–Adam Kwarasey, Alvas Powell, Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers, Jack Jewsbury, Darlington Nagbe, Dairon Asprilla (Gaston Fernandez, 62nd), Jorge Villafana, Rodney Wallace, George Fochive (Michael Nanchoff, 86th), Fanendo Adi (Maximiliano Urruti, 82nd).