Despite the sad way it ended, the Timbers still gave me reasons to cheer in 2025. There's maybe a good soccer team in there somewhere - if they're brave enough to look for it. Regardless, as ever, I know I am, I'm sure I am. Onward. #RCTID

FULLTIME: San Diego 4, Timbers 0 Portland's 2025 season ends with a resolute thud as they get blown out in the game three of the first round of the playoffs. Up next, another offseason filled with some tough decisions. #RCTID

At the very least, the Timbers know they've got a fighter in Kristoffer Velde. Biggest lovable villain on the team since Blanco. Can't wait to see what he does next year. #RCTID

Y’know, there’s something morbidly poetic about the Timbers both starting and ending their 2025 season by conceding four goals and getting a defender sent off. Really bookends the whole thing. #RCTID

80' Juan Mosquera sent off as he's shown a straight red card. Absolutely brainless move from him as he slams his forearm into Lozano after getting fouled. #RCTID

79' San Diego FC now leads Portland 4-0. Where have I seen this one before. Oh right. #RCTID

76' Another sub for Portland - ON: Gage Guerra OFF: Ayala #RCTID

Don't let the scoreline and imminent end of Portland's season distract you from FINN SURMAN. Lad has been, once again, incredible in defending Dreyer, Pellegrino, and now Lozano tonight. Future is bright as hell for him. #RCTID

73' Rojas tries a very ambitious shot from distance that sails well high. I mean, sure, why not? #RCTID

66' Paredes shown a yellow card for a frankly cynical foul. Like, I get it dude, really. But keep your head. #RCTID

One of those nights, redux: Paredes just smashed the crossbar with a header. Not that 3-1 feels materially better than 3-0, but I need something to make me smile dangit. #RCTID

*Triple sub, my apologies. Paredes also came on for Chara #RCTID

Let's just mentally all stay here: Ahhh, remember when we were basking in the warmth of a Thorns win, and belief for no good reason? That was nice, wasn't it? No need to talk about what happened an hour later. #RCTID

56' Double sub from Portland to try to make things interesting: ON: Matias Rojas, Felipe Mora OFF: Da Costa, Kelsy #RCTID

53' And there's three. And I think there's goodnight on the Portland Timbers' season. Damn. #RCTID

While I respect and appreciate Kevin Kelsy tracking back to defend a back post header... uhhh dude you should probably be a bit, y'know, higher up the pitch? #RCTID

46' Well, here we go. 45 minutes left for Portland to save their season. Need a pair (in more than one regard). Let's see what you got guys. #RCTID

One sub for the Timbers at the break: Mosquera comes on for Fory. Shifts Antony to the left wingback spot, with Portland still in a back three (for now). #RCTID

HALFTIME: San Diego 2, Timbers 0 Limp and organized start from Portland leads to them getting cut up and beaten down. Despite some promising(ish) moments in the latter stages of the half, they trail by two. What are we drinking tonight to cope, fam? #RCTID

45' Into three minutes of added time at the end of the first half. Portland has stopped the bleeding, but uhhhh wow that's a lot of blood already on the floor. Timbers still trail by two goals. #RCTID

42' Pantemis keeps the bleeding from getting worse as he gets down quick to smother a shot through traffic. #RCTID

39' Pantemis pounces poignantly to gobble up a ball that Pellegrino and Surman were battling for. #RCTID

36' Duah goes into the book now as he hacks down Antony to stop a Timbers counter. Looks like Antony took a boot in a, uh, not great place. #RCTID

34' Ayala puts a header high after a pair of corners from Portland. Timbers doing a lot more things right... but San Diego still is poised to break and threaten on seemingly every turnover. #RCTID

Fam, I regret to inform y'all that it might indeed be: one of those nights 🫠 #RCTID

29' And now Fory goes in the book after a hard sliding challenge. Please no repeats of what happened in game one. #RCTID

27' Fory has a header cleared off the line. Uh. What. Oh. My god. #RCTID

San Diego has been putting on a clinic of playing through an aggressive press/man-marking system. Aggressive dribbling paired with long balls to wiling runners (and a dash of Portland's poor scramble defense), and you get, well, this. #RCTID

17' Goal San Diego. Pellegrino gets his revenge, as he played in over the top. Pants saves the initial header, but the follow up is put home. Ruh roh x2 #RCTID

16' Pellegrino gets out on the run, but Diego mothereffing Chara chases him down with the speed of a 21-year-old to hold him up, and the shot is collected by Pants. #RCTID

11' Ugggghhhh golden chance for Portland as Kelsy is clean through after a turnover - and he puts his shot right at Sisniega. Had Velde trailing and time to maybe take a touch. #RCTID

Glass half empty: Portland takes one on the chin early on in San Diego again. Glass half full: Portland has responded and scored a goal after conceding in both game one and game two. #RCTID

5' Goal San Diego. Dreyer sweeps home after San Diego turns Portland over and attacks on the counter. Ruh roh. #RCTID

Both Fory and Velde are sporting bleached blonde hair tonight. What is this, 2019? #RCTID

1' And here we go. Kickoff in San Diego. Onward, Trees. #RCTID

There is so much belief beyond reason in the Timbies out there right now that I can’t help but shed a tear in pride 🥲 If this is where we go down, let us go down together. #RCTID

Just over 20 minutes to go (6:12pm kickoff - the listed times are a lie!), so time to put it all out there: Who thinks Portland completes the upset tonight? Raise your hand with pride and bravery if you do! #RCTID

Well gooooood evening Soccer City! @sammich923.bsky.social here - anyone else like me and still buzzing after the Thorns’ big win? Now it’s the lads’ turn, as they face San Diego in a do or die game three. Winner plays the Loons, loser walks. How are we feeling out there?? #RCTID

Tricky Phil changes up Portland’s lineup yet again. Looks like a back three with Fory back in the lineup as a wingback opposite Antony. DDC, Velde, and Kelsy lead the line. No Fernandez, but Rojas back on the bench #RCTID

Reilyn Turner on scoring the playoff game-winner in front of the Providence Park crowd #BAONPDX "We have the best fans in the world." "Obviously, it's nice scoring a playoff game regardless, but here at home is just something different. It's a different feeling." 📸: @kelseybaker.bsky.social

Rob Gale: "Hopefully we get some good [injury] news, and the soccer Gods will smile on a couple of the returning players. We need it. We need a bit of luck and a little bit of a break this year." #BAONPDX "We haven't had it all year, but keep writing us off."

Rob Gale: "We ain't done yet." #BAONPDX

Mackenzie "Macca" Arnold on back-to-back-to-back clean sheets & hearing "she's our keeper" chants #BAONPDX "Yeah, I think it's the first time I've heard it all season, to be honest. It's really special to play at Providence Park, & it's a place that I've never experienced before for club soccer."

1-0 Portland Thorns #BAONPDX 2025 semifinalists. This is what it means:

123' Yellow on Leon #BAONPDX

120' FIVE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE... #BAONPDX

117' DAIANE RISES UP, but Sheridan is there #BAONPDX

115' PIETRA TORDIN BEATS TWO DEFENDERS ENDLINE and nearly called game... #BAONPDX What a ridiculous amount of skill from the rookie. Corner kick incoming.

112' Deyna comes off for Daiane #BAONPDX Portland adding more defense for the final 8 minutes.

109' Reilyn Turner wins a free kick at the top of the box #BAONPDX You know what time it is...