Portland Timbers destroy Colorado Rapids in dominant MLS away win | OneFootball

Portland Timbers required a response on the road. And they received it. The 3–0 victory against the Colorado Rapids at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park not only provided them with their first away three points in 2025, but also exhibited clear evidence of collective improvement, defensive solidity, and attacking precision. The game was tidy, well organized, with impressive individual displays and, most importantly, emotional and tactical command throughout.

Antony finished with poise to break open the floodgates and once again showed he has no problems against Colorado. Kevin Kelsy showed up on time to score his own. And Pantemis tended goal with the confidence of someone who knows what he's doing. In the middle of it all, Da Costa and Santiago Moreno did their creative jobs well and gave Timbers the support needed to build a crucial result.

Away wins, especially in traditionally tough stadiums, do not usually come without a fight. What we saw in Colorado was a focused team, well-prepared, and more clear in what they wanted to do.

Antony and a familiar pattern that frustrates Colorado

It was him again. Antony scored for the second time this season, and once more, it was against a familiar opponent. Five of his ten Portland goals have come against Colorado. It's an odd statistic that stands out — and more importantly, it speaks to the reality that he knows precisely how to take apart that defense.

The objective came in the third minute of the second half. Santiago Moreno started the move, ran down the middle, and played Antony in a fine position to make the advance up front. He glided through three defenders, easily, and shot it from outside the box with his right foot into the bottom corner. All the while in stride, in control.

Kelsy comes and completes the task

Kevin Kelsy was looking for a goal. He hadn't scored yet for Portland, and that moment finally came in the 76th minute. The cross came from the left, from the foot of Jimer Fory, who had received a good pass from David Da Costa in midfield. The ball was nicely positioned, and Kelsy was well-positioned to tap it in, low with his right foot.

Da Costa is consistent in the buildup

David Da Costa was a more consistent name on the field. He directly set up the first and third goals. The cross from which Josh Atencio scored an own goal, during first-half stoppage time, came from him. He ran down the right, cut inside the box, and crossed. The defender tried to clear but headed it into his own net.

Then it was Da Costa who started the move for Kelsy's goal. He has been gradually proving his value since his signing this season. He makes the team flow better with his intelligent passing and clever positioning.

Moreno finds space and delivers

Santiago Moreno got his second start of the season and earned an assist. The second goal began with him. He won the ball in the midfield area, moved it confidently up field, and played Antony in stride. It was his first assist of 2025 and a big one for a game that saw Portland in need of somebody to open the opposition's back line up.

Pantemis puts up another clean sheet

In the back, James Pantemis completed the game without allowing a goal for the second time this season. It was the third time he's shut out on the road since joining the club in 2024. Overall, he now has seven clean sheets while wearing a Portland jersey.

He did not have to make any jaw-dropping saves, but he was always well-positioned, yelled orders succinctly at the defense, and got the basics right. Against Colorado, that was more than enough. The home team did not generate quantity, but Pantemis also did not give them any space to find their way into the game.

A game that means more than the result

There is more to this result than the three goals. Portland Timbers showed organization, controlled intensity, and well-timed transitions. It's also notable this win came in a stadium that hasn't been very kind to Portland in the past. The record there prior to kickoff was three wins, nine losses, and five draws at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park.