The Portland Timbers took off for three objectives in a leading first half, securing a top-four seed in the Western Meeting with a commanding 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Arena on Wednesday evening. Sebastian Blanco was the star of the show for the visitors, racking up two of his group's 3 goals and also establishing the other with a deflected cross that resulted in a very own objective. With the victory, the Timbers are guaranteed a residence Audi MLS Cup Playoff video game, while RSL missed out on an opportunity to clinch a postseason area and rather currently enter Decision Day with their playoff hopes directly on the ropes. RSL pushed the activity early, yet it was Rose city who struck for an opener versus the run of play on 17 mins through a perfectly carried out corner kick regimen. Cristhian Paredes provided the assist with a flipped header to the much message that found Blanco unmarked, enabling the Argentine to head residence a basic close-range coating Dario Zuparic T-Shirt. The suit stayed wide-open in the aftermath, with each side striking one off the post within minutes of the objective. Jaroslaw Niezgoda and also Justen Glad each had cost-free headers that they place on target, just to see them denied by the woodwork. Portland then included their second in the 38th minute politeness of a very own goal. The sequence was headed by Blanco, that struck Thankful with a collection of jukes prior to sending in a low cross that deflected into the web off RSL's Aaron Herrera. Blanco capped off the first-half onslaught by discovering his brace in the 45th min, as the Timbers ripped open an out-of-sorts RSL defense with a clinical counterattack https://www.portlandtimberstee.com/Santiago-Moreno-T-Shirt. Niezgoda supplied the assist with an easy cross that Blanco conveniently slotted into an open internet, with RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa drew off his line. Rose city protected the three-goal benefit until late in the 2nd half, though RSL ultimately brought one back through an 88th-minute penalty shot from Albert Rusnak that turned out to be a moot factor. Goals 17' - POR - Sebastian Blanco|WATCH38' - POR - Aaron Herrera (OG)|WATCH45' - POR - Sebastian Blanco|WATCH88' - RSL - Albert Rusnak (PK)|WATCH 3 Points THE BIG PICTURE: They have actually sustained some struggles this year, yet credit scores to the Timbers for their late-season surge that not just got them back into the playoff mix yet ensured a residence game once they arrive. For RSL, the first-half defensive lapses resulted in a missed out on chance that can specify their season, as they went from being able to clinch a postseason bid to now being listed below the playoff line heading into Decision Day, needing a win at Sporting Kansas City. MOMENT OF THE SUIT: Rose city were under a fair quantity of stress early until Blanco's opener entirely flipped the manuscript. MALE OF THE MATCH: Blanco makes this a simple telephone call with his all-around electrical efficiency https://www.portlandtimberstee.com/Justin-Rasmussen-T-Shirt. With their most dynamic enemy looking extremely a lot back to full stamina after his midseason return from a torn ACL, the Timbers don't have the look of a group anybody is mosting likely to intend to face in the playoffs. Successive RSL: Sunday, November 7 at Sporting Kansas City|6 pm ET (MLS SURVIVE ON ESPN+) POR: Sunday, November 7 vs. Austin FC|6 pm ET (MLS RESIDE ON ESPN+) Ari Liljenwall -