HARRISON, N.J. — The Portland Timbers had a strong turnout from their traveling fan base on Saturday, and they rewarded them with three big road points.
Maximilliano Urruti bagged a brace to help the Timbers pick up a come-from-behind victory over the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. Bradley Wright-Phillips gave New York the lead with a first-half penalty kick, but Urruti struck just before halftime and again in the 74th minute to give Portland its second win of the season.
The result extends the Timbers’ current unbeaten streak to five games and improves them to 2-3-7 while dropping the Red Bulls to 3-5-5 and extending their winless skid to three matches.
New York got off to a strong start in the game, and found their reward Pa Modou Kah brought down Lloyd Sam in the penalty area in the 35th minute. Wright-Phillips stepped up to take the spot kick and converted it for his 10th goal of the season.
The Timbers struck back seconds before halftime. Urruti saw he had space and unleashed a shot from about 20 yards out that took a deflection before beating goalkeeper Luis Robles.
The Red Bulls looked to have retaken the lead in the 53rd minute, but Wright-Phillips tapped a ball home from an offside position after Thierry Henry’s free kick from 25 yards was parried by Ricketts.
That came back to haunt the Red Bulls, as Urruti struck again 16 minutes before the final whistle after a cross from the left made its way to the back post.
Both teams face short turnarounds, as they have midweek road games on the schedule. The Red Bulls will visit Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday and the Timbers travel to take on Chivas USA a day later.
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
