Felipe Mora double leads Timbers over RSL and into MLS Playoffs’ next round | MLS

Felipe Mora’s first-half double ended a long drought and helped the Portland Timbers earn a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference wild-card match on Wednesday night.

Kamal Miller’s late header gave eighth-seeded Portland some confidence as the Timbers sealed a first-round meeting with Western Conference No. 1 San Diego FC. The best of three sets begin Sunday in Southern California.

James Pantemis made six saves to preserve the victory, Portland’s second in its last 11 games.

Justen Glad’s header at the end of the first half gave RSL a lifeline. However, Salt Lake saw its playoff winless streak extended to eight games (three losses, five draws) after sneaking into ninth and final place in the West thanks to the results of the final day of the regular season.

Mora had not scored in his last 23 regular season matches, nor in his previous 12 appearances in all competitions, to finally produce arguably his greatest performance in a Timbers jersey.

His first goal came following a sequence that could have turned into a red card for Salt Lake.

Ultimately, referee Guido Gonzales Jr. showed restraint by allowing RSL’s Noel Caliskan to remain in the match rather than issuing the player a second warning in as many minutes for Caliskan’s late tackle on Diego Chara.

Mora was first on the ensuing free kick, going past the right side. While Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafael Cabral saved the initial effort, the rebound fell in the striker’s favor for a low finish in the 24th minute.

Mora’s second goal came from a similar sequence 11 minutes later. This time Kristoffer Velde sent the inside serve from the right, but again Mora followed his own rebound with a saved header with a composed finish.

Glad responded with his header from Diogo Goncalves’ cross four minutes later to give Salt Lake some momentum before halftime.

After the break, the visitors were the better side. William Agada’s sensational 73rd minute kick hit the crossbar. A minute later, Brayan Vera thought he had equalized with an exceptional free kick that snuck inside the left post, but was rightly ruled out as Rwan Cruz had illegally interfered with Portland’s defensive wall.

Miller sealed the result in the 82nd minute when he slipped unmarked at the far post to head home a smart diagonal ball from substitute Ariel Lassiter.