It would not take long for the Hitmen to take that early lead, when they caught the Timbers pushing forward early, and in just the fourth minute, Shay Spitz helped start a break and found Jamie Chavez down the left side, who crossed to an open Brent Whitfield, who finished easily into the open net for the early 1-0 lead for the Hitmen.

It was a physical match and scoring chances would be few and far between, with the first good Timbers chance not coming until the 20th minute when a free kick cross found Brian Ramsey at the far post, but his dangerous short cross was cleared by the Hitmen defense. In the 33rd minute, Portland's Brent Richards made a nice run down the left side, and his cross found Roberto Farfan open at the far post, but Farfan would his-hit the first time chance. In the 45th minute, a Timbers giveaway just outside their own box nearly resulted in an open chance for Whitefield, but Timbers defender Ryan Kawulok was able to retreat and break up the chance just as the Hitmen striker was about to go one-on-one with Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, and it would be the last chance of the half and Hollywood United would hold a 1-0 lead at the half.

The second half would be more wide-open after a tight, physical first half. Four minutes into the second half, it would be former Portland Timbers midfielder Edwin Miranda with the chance, as he had a chance from near the corner of the Timbers box but his low shot was smothered and saved by Gleeson. Two minutes later, it was Portland's Jordan Crasilneck making the dangerous run, but his very tight angle shot, with Hollywood United goalkeeper Jose Miranda Boudy coming off his line, slipped just past the far post.

In the 59th minute, it was Hollywood United's Shalom Bako with a dipping shot that Gleeson had to pick up on the short-hop. Four minutes later, it was Portland's Richards threatening again as he made a run down the right side to near the touchline and his cross slipped right through the crease, but was eventually crossed back over the right right side, where Steven Evans found Richards making a run to the near post, but his shot would be blocked from close-in was blocked wide by the Hitmen defense.

But after the ensuing corner kick, the Timbers would find the equalizer when the ball ended up at the feet of Graham Dugoni, who found Freddie Braunjust a few yards out from goal, and though his shot appeared to rebound off a defender or two on its way into the net, it settled into the back of the goal, and the Timbers had pulled level at 1-1.

It took less than three minutes for the Timbers to take the lead, on a very unexpected goal. Braun found Evans about 30 yards out from the Hitmen goal, and the Timbers striker's blast rebounded off a Hitmen defender, freezing the goalkeeper in his place as the ball slipped just inside the upper right corner of the goal, and within a matter of just a few minutes, the Timbers had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

The Timbers would have to protect their lead against a physical Hitmen team, who had some dangerous free kicks in the next 10 minutes, the most dangerous chance being a free kick from 20 yards out in the 75th minute that was just inches wide left. The Timbers also had a good chance to widen the lead in the 76th minute when a redirect by Ben Ogunyemi at the near post off a free kick just outside the box was blocked by a Hollywood United defender guarding the post.

Shortly afterwards, the center referee seemed to have some type of physical problem and collapsed and had to be helped from the field. He was replaced by one of the assistant referees while the fourth official took over the assistant referee's position, though the original center referee originally returned to take on the duty of the fourth official. In the 83rd minute, the Timbers came within inches of widening the lead when a cross from Ogunyemi found Richard Abrego just six yards out from goal, but his header slipped just over the crossbar. The Timbers would also lose Dogoni to a red card late as he brought down a Hollywood United striker on a breakaway, and he will miss the final on Sunday.

In stoppage time (which was never announced as to how long it would be, but lasted over six minutes), the Hitmen had one last good chance when a shot from Whitfield was saved by Gleeson, with the rebound eventually finding Miranda with a look from the top of the box, but his chance would slip just a few yards wide left.

Eventually the whistle would blow, and the Timbers would hold on for their 17th win in 17 tries, to advance to the Western Conference Playoff Final to be held on Sunday.