Portland Timbers Keep Chopping Wood Against Chivas USA (VIDEO)

Aug 9, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers defender/midfielder Rodney Wallace (22) raises his hands in the air after scoring the Timbers

After a 3-1 stinker to the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend, Caleb Porter’s Portland Timbers put it all together against the Galaxy’s city rivals, Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA, at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. Their 2-0 victory on Saturday night ensures that they remain in the race for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. As for Chivas, their losing streak is putting themselves in a dire position this late in the MLS season.

Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for Saturday’s match between the Portland Timbers and Chivas USA.

1. Diego Valeri’s scoring form continues

Early on in the first half, Portland’s Fanendo Adi had a header from Rodney Wallace miss to the right seven minutes in. Three minutes late, Diego Valeri launched a rocket from about 25 yards out following a 50-yard run to give Portland a lead that they would not relinquish. The goal was Valeri’s seventh of the season.

2. Chivas forced to give chase as Portland press

In the 12th minute, Tony Lochhead was cautioned for a challenge on Gaston Fernandez. Valeri was hoping for a brace one minute later, but Dan Kennedy was there to make the stop. After a series of free kicks, Portland captain Will Johnson had shot from outside the box blocked in the 24th minute.

One minute later, Johnson’s bad luck continued with a right-footed shot that hit the left post. On the rebound, his pass to Liam Ridgewell and a would-be goal was ruled offsides. In the 28th minute, Michael Harrington had a shot from outside the box blocked.

3. Rodney Wallace breaks through

Oswaldo Minda, fresh off World Cup duty with Ecuador, was cautioned for a challenge on Johnson in the 33rd minute of play. Wallace, who would score a few minutes later in the match, had an attempt blocked in the 37th minute of play. Portland’s Norberto Paparatto, who was making his first start in months, had a shot miss highand wide to the right.

In the 39th minute, Wallace finally broke through to open up his scoring account off the initial miss from Adi. At the 40th minute, Erick Torres, whose scoring form began to drop, had a shot from outside the box miss to the right.

4. Cards begin to pile up in second half

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Early on in a goalless second half, Leandro Barrera came in for Marvin Chavez at the start. Valeri got cautioned in the 51st minute for a rather silly act of dissent, also known as delaying a restart. Mauro Rosales, who was one of the many nonfactors in this contest for Chivas, had a right-footed shot miss to the left in the 52nd minute. Gaston Fernandez was hoping to get on the scoresheet in the 55th minute but missed wide right. Agustin Pelletieri was cautioned in the 59th minute for a foul on Fernandez.

5. Dan Kennedy prevents brace bids from Timbers

At the hour mark, Marco Delgado filled in for Minda to provide some speed. Johnson’s next chance on goal in the 62nd minute was saved by Kennedy. Paparatto came close second late but the attempt sailed just over the bar. In the 65th minute, Valeri’s next bid for a brace missed to the left.

At the 68th minute, Maximiliano Urruti came in for Adi to keep the pressure on Chivas USA. Rosales had another attempt in the 71st minute blocked. Wallace also had a bid for a brace in the 72nd minute denied by Kennedy. Rosales’s next chance on goal off a free kick was high and wide right, continuing his poor form.

6. More misses as Portland secure shutout

With the game in hand, Portland needed to stand tall against a desperate attacking rally from Chivas. In the 78th minute, former Seattle Sounder Steve Zakuani came in for Fernandez while Chivas forward Ryan Finley filled in for Pelletieri in the 80th minute of play. Torres’s next chance in the 82nd minute missed high and wide right.

Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts finally did some work in the 83rd minute, collecting a shot from Leandro Barrera. Donny Toia had a chance miss to the right in the 84th minute. Ben Zemanski came in for Valeri in the 86th minute in a bid by Porter to maintain the shutout. In the 88th minute, Finley had a shot miss too high following a corner. The first minute of stoppage time saw Urruti fail to ice the game with a shot hitting the bleachers. Ridgewell was cautioned for a challenge on Torres in the second minute of stoppage time. Finally, Delgado was in the book in the third minute for a frustration foul on Diego Chara.

Team Statistics

Portland in green, Chivas USA in red

Portland Timbers Player Ratings

Donovan Ricketts 6, Danny O’Rourke 6, Liam Ridgewell 6.5, Michael Harrington 7, Norberto Paparatto 6, Diego Chara 7, Gaston Fernandez 6, Will Johnson 6, Diego Valeri 7.5, Fanendo Adi 7, Rodney Wallace 8, Maximiliano Urruti 5, Steve Zakuano 4, Ben Zemanski NR

Chivas USA Player Ratings

Dan Kennedy 4, Akira Kaji 3, Donny Toia 3, Eriq Zavaleta 3, Tony Lochhead 3.5, Agustin Pelletieri 3.5, Mauro Rosales 5, Nathan Sturgis 4, Oswaldo Minda 3.5, Erick Torres 5, Marvin Chavez 3, Leandro Barrera 4, Marco Delgado 2.5, Ryan Finley NR