The Colorado Rapids came into Saturday’s game with the slimmest of hopes at making the playoffs, and would need a big showing against the Portland Timbers if they had any hope of making a late push. Colorado saw one of their starting center backs return for this matchup as Shane O’Neill made his first appearance since July 12th. His absence from the back line has been sorely missed by the Rapids during their seven-game losing streak.

The first 15 minutes of the game was very back and forth with both Portland and Colorado getting chances in the offensive third. Neither team got any dangerous shots off, but for the Rapids it was a promising start; especially considering how they’ve played in this streak. The presence of O’Neill on the back line helped the Rapids defense keep things steady and not allow the Timbers to get anything dangerous off.

In the 24th minute, the Rapids had their best chance to that point when Nick LaBrocca took in a poorly cleared ball and volleyed it toward goal. Donovan Ricketts had to make a leaping punch and was just barely able to clear it over the net.

Portland looked to have made the first tally on the score sheet in the 29th minute, but the goal was waved off. The Timbers kept the pressure on and the Rapids almost let them get another one but Fanendo Adi was unable to put it in from just five yards away, booting it over the net instead.

The Rapids would respond with a big push forward in the 34th minute. Marvell Wynne would drive the ball from midfield and find a wide-open Kamani Hill on the right side. Hill’s cross was too long for any Rapids player to get a head on it, but Carlos Alvarez found himself in a great position to keep it in the 18-yard box. After some nifty moves Alvarez took a shot and Ricketts let the ball rebound off him allowing Deshorn Brown the chance at a goal. Brown was unable to keep it down however and the ball sailed over the net.

In the 43rd minute, Portland would get on the board when Diego Valeri shot from the top of the penalty box and Rapids rookie keeper, John Berner, could not push it wide enough and it trickled into the back of the net.

The Rapids came out in the second half pushing forward and would get the chance to tie the game in the 48th minute. Deshorn Brown went streaking forward with the ball and took a shot that went off a Timbers player's hand earning the Rapids a penalty kick. Dillon Powers would step up and stutter step his way to the goal and a tie game.

Portland started to rally back over the next 15 minutes putting lots of pressure on Colorado’s midfield, but the Rapids would not have any of it as they would take the lead in the 66th minute. Deshorn Brown was able to score on a cross from Marc Burch. Brown found himself at the end line when the ball got to him but was able to put enough on the ball to get past an outstretched Ricketts and into the opposite side of the net.

Portland would tie the game in the 76th minute when Gaston Fernandez found a way to bully himself past O’Neill and softly put the ball into the net. The Rapids looked like they thought the play was going to be whistled dead and were standing around looking for the ref to call a stop to the play. With both teams needing three points from this game, play had been getting tense on both sides. After Portland tied it up, the last ten minutes would be crucial.

A hard fought final 10 minutes had the fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in an uproar over the ref’s calls and a blown lead by the home team. But both teams would keep pressuring until the final whistle. Colorado would get two corner kicks in the final two minutes of the game, but would come up short on both opportunities. The Rapids extended their winless streak to eight games and buried any chance they may have had at the playoffs.