Timbers shut out DC United, 2-0

WASHINGTON — Rodney Wallace scored in the 21st minute and Darlington Nagbe added another goal in the second half, lifting the Portland Timbers to a 2-0 win over D.C. United on Saturday night.

Portland (5-1-7) beat United for the first time in four meetings since the club joined MLS in 2011, extending its club-record unbeaten streak to 11 games. The Timbers remain the only undefeated MLS team on the road this season

United (1-9-2) is now winless in its last 10 games — matching a club record set in 2002 — and failed to score for the seventh time in 12 games.

Wallace, who began his MLS career with United and also won an NCAA championship at Maryland in 2008, comfortably controlled a strong pass from Frederic Piquionne with his left foot before smashing the ball into the upper left corner of the goal for his fourth tally this season.

Nagbe nearly got the scoring going early on when his shot from in front was tipped over the cross bar by United goalie Bill Hamid in the 17th minute. Hamid finished with three saves.

Given a second opportunity after halftime, Nagbe was able to find his mark. After receiving a looping pass from Ryan Johnson, Nagbe managed to slip behind Brandon McDonald and in front of Ethan White before slotting the ball between Hamid’s legs. It was his fourth goal of the season.

D.C. United was only able to put two shots on target, neither of which caused any trouble for goaltender Donovan Ricketts, who came up with the pair of stops.

United’s best chance to score came in the 42nd when Carlos Ruiz, starting the first game of his United career, whipped a pass into the six-yard box, but neither Chris Pontius or Kyle Porter could get a touch before Timbers defender Jack Jewsbury cleared the ball.

In the 71st minute, United players begged for an apparent hand ball against Andrew Jean-Baptiste in the 18-yard box but referee Jose Carlos Rivero never flinched and let the game continue.

TIMBERS 2, UNITED 0

Portland 1 1–2

D.C. United 0 0–0

First half–1, Portland, Wallace 4 (Piquionne, Jewsbury), 21st minute.

Second half–2, Portland, Nagbe 4 (Johnson), 57th.

Goalies–Portland, Donovan Ricketts; D.C. United, Bill Hamid.

Yellow Cards–Kah, Portland, 64th; Valencia, Portland, 88th.

Referee–Jose Carlos Rivero. Assistant Referees–Anthony Vasoli. Bill Dittmar. 4th Official–Mark Kadlecik.

A–14,131 (45,596)

Lineups

Portland–Donovan Ricketts, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Rodney Wallace (Kalif Alhassan, 88th), Michael Harrington, Pa-Modou Kah, Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Will Johnson, Frederic Piquionne (Jose Valencia, 82nd), Ryan Johnson (Ben Zemanski, 73rd).

D.C. United–Bill Hamid, Brandon McDonald, James Riley, Ethan White, Chris Korb, Kyle Porter, Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon, Marcos Sanchez (Raphael Augusto, 47th), Chris Pontius (Dwayne De Rosario, 65th), Carlos Ruiz (Lionard Pajoy, 71st).