Kevin Kelsy scored his second and third goals and also created the sequence leading to an own goal in his side’s favor as the visiting Portland Timbers defeated Sporting Kansas City 4-2 on Sunday.
David Ayala also scored and had an assist as Portland (4-2-2, 14 points) extended its unbeaten run to five matches with its highest scoring performance of the season, and its third with at least three goals scored during its unbeaten stretch.
Jonathan Rodriguez, the Timbers’ leading scorer in 2024, made his first 2025 appearance off the bench late after recovering from an early season knee injury.
Dejan Joveljic converted from the penalty spot for his fifth goal for Kansas City (1-6-1, 4 points), which suffered its first defeat under interim manager Kerry Zavagnin.
But James Pantemis saved Joveljic’s second penalty early in second-half stoppage time that could have narrowed SKC’s deficit to one.
Shapi Suleymanov also had a goal early for the hosts, who scored multiple times for a second consecutive match but were doomed by their worst defensive effort of the season.
Kelsy’s first goal gave Portland a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute, when he used his knee near the penalty spot to redirect Ayala’s shot from the edge of the box.
Joveljic leveled from the spot in the 33rd after a video review confirmed a foul inside the area on Antony’s late challenge.
But Kelsy put Portland up for good in the 49th after Antony’s hustle seized upon a giveaway on the left side of Kansas City’s half.
After getting on the ball to create a counterattack, Antony delivered the cross toward the penalty spot, and Kelsy met it in stride for a finish from about 12 yards.
Kelsy turned into the creator in the 54th minute. John Pulskamp saved a first attempt from a penalty, but Kelsy reached the rebound on the right side of the area and hit a first-time cross.
It was ultimately turned in accidentally by defender Jansen Miller. If he hadn’t, one of a few Portland attackers looming in the box may have.
–Field Level Media
