Portland Timbers Shut Out In MLS Cup, Atlanta Wins Title 2-0

PORTLAND, OR – It was a silent night for Timber Joey. Having traveled to Atlanta from Portland hoping to run his chainsaw several times, he never got the chance as the Timbers were shut out, 2-0 by Atlanta United in the MLS Cup.

For Atlanta, it was a huge win, playing on in their second season and bringing the city its first championship since the Braves won the World Series in 1995.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was packed with 73,019 fans – More than 1,00 of whom had traveled to watch their Timbers play for the championship for the second time in four years.

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In 2015, they won it all.

United got the only goal of the first half when Josef Martinez scored off Timbers' keeper, Jeff Attinella in the 39th minute.

They scored again the 54th minute when Franco Escobar scored.

Attinella had the game's only save when he blocked a ball that Martinez headed toward him in the 71st minute.

Portland did have their chances – in the 43rd, 62nd, 83rd, and 88th minutes. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert any of them.

It was still a very successful playoff run for the Timbers. To get to the final, they beat three times seeded higher than they were – Dallas in the knockout round followed by a tense shootout victory against their main rivals, the Seattle Sounders.

They capped it off by beating top-seed Sporting Kansas City 3-2 on the road.

The Timbers will be flying back to Portland around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Fans wishing to welcome them are encouraged to gather curbsisde on the upper roadway starting at 12:30 p.m..

Photo via Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers.