The Timbers would come out in a 4-4-2, putting four in the back in an attempt to shut down the assault on goal that goalkeeper Josh Saunders had faced in the previous two games, facing well over 30 shots in those two games. Josh's brother Shawn Saunders played his first full game since returning from injury, and his presence helped shore up the defensive line. Charleston would come out in a 3-5-2 formation.

Portland forward Byron Alvarez had a good chance in just the third minute, getting a good look from the top of the box, but his shot was blocked by defender Alan Woods, and Byron's attempt to chip in the rebound was easily collected by the Battery keeper. Four minutes later, the Battery had their first look when Boyzzz Khumalo made a good run down the right side, but his shot was blocked by Timbers defender Gavin Wilkinson near the edge of the Timbers box.

In the 10th minute, Portland's Aaran Lines made a deep run down the left side, and his low cross to Dan Antoniuk was redirected just inches wide of the right post. Antoniuk would have another good look in the 24th minute, getting his head to a cross from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, but his shot was a yard over the bar. The Battery were getting some good runs down both sidelines during the middle part of the first half, but Saunders had been able to control the box and end every threat by snatching the cross.

The Battery finally did get a few good shots on goal, coming in the last few minutes of the half, with a shot by Lazo Alavanja forced a reaction save from Saunders, and a shot by Khumalo being deflected wide by the Timbers defense. But neither team would break through in the first half and the half ended at 0-0.

The second half would be largely controlled by the Battery, who were finding more success to the inside of the Timbers defense, and would get their first good look in the 56th minute when a low shot from near the top of the box by Josh Smith forced a sprawling save from Saunders. Two minutes later, Ted Chronopoulos had the ball at his feet as he slid into the box on a nice give-and-go with Khumalo (on a heel pass), but his shot from 10 yards out was right at Saunders.

In the 59th minute, Antoniuk had another good chance for the home side, but his shot from 30 yards out slid just wide to the left. One minute later, the Battery nearly snuck in a goal when Chris Goos caught Saunders a bit off his line and his attempt to chip from 40 yards out was tipped just over the bar.

In the 61st minute, the Battery would have their best chance of the night when a high ball into the box could not be controlled by the Timbers keeper, who collided with Greg Simmonds at the top of the box. Simmonds was able to chip the ball dangerously towards goal but was knocked over the endline by Timbers defender Scot Thompson to end the threat.

In the 68th minute, some impressive juggling near the sidelines by Alcaraz-Cuellar was follwed by a cross to Alvarez, who was momentarily open at the top of the Charleston box, but he could not turn on the ball in time and it was cleared out of danger. The Timbers had another good chance seconds later, when a cross from Aaron Heinzen to Alvarez was headed right at Battery goalkeeper Chris Doyle.

Charleston had another good chance to take the lead in the 82nd minute when a free kick from 25 yards out by Alavanja was just over the bar.

With both teams pushing for a last-minute game-winner, it was the Timbers who would find the back of the net, when in the 89th minute, a cross from Heinzen was headed back out to the top of the box by Alcaraz-Cuellar, where a charging Edwin Miranda hit a hard shot that caught Doyle right in the chest. The shot rebounded out to Alavrez, whose header from only a few yards out was kept out by a spectacular one-handed save by Doyle. But the save was not enough as the rebound fell to the feet of substitute Fadi Afash, who had just entered the match a few minutes before. Afash knocked the ball into the net from just a few yards out to put the Timbers up 1-0.

The Timbers were able to keep Charleston from threatening again, and would escape with a 1-0 win, extending their undefeated regular-season streak to fifteen games, and improving their lifetime record against Charleston to 3 wins with 0 losses and 0 draws.

Josh Saunders had six saves for the Timbers, while Chris Doyle had three saves in the losing effort (two of them on the final goal-scoring effort).