The Timbers were looking for their momentum from their 6-1 victory over Atlanta on Thursday to carry over into this match, but early on it was not to be as the visiting Kickers had the run of play for the first half hour. Just four minutes into the match, the Kickers had probably their best chance to take a lead when the ball bounced wildly around in front of the Timbers net, at one point getting in behind Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders, but though the Kickers had at least three good chances to put the ball into the net within seconds, the collapsing Timbers defense was eventually able to clear.

The Timbers had their first good look in the 10th minute when a cross from the right side from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was met with a full volley from Dan Antoniuk from 15 yards out that was just over the bar. Matt Delicate had the same problem for the Kickers four minutes later when his shot from 12 yards out also went a yard or two over the bar.

In the 19th minute, Richmond's Matt Pauls had a good look from near the top of the box, but his shot was right at the Timbers keeper and easily saved. One minute later, the Timbers had another good chance when Byron Alvarez was able to turn on the ball inside the Kickers box, but his shot from 12 yards out was blocked wide by a Kickers defender.

In the 27th minute, Portland's Edwin Miranda unleashed a hard shot on a ball that came back out from the box to him, but his blast from 20 yards out that was headed towards the underside of the bar was snared by Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale.

In the 29th minute, the Kickers had another good chance when a diagonal chip into the box found McColm Cephas open about 12 yards out, but Cephas was only able to head a shot across the goal mouth.

In the 33rd minute, the Kickers had perhaps their last good scoring opportunity when Joey Worthen slipped in behind the Timbers defense and had a breakaway chance until defenders Aaran Lines and Scot Thompson were able to chase Worthen down and blocked the shot off Worthen's foot, and the shot was deflected over the endline.

In the 35th minute, the Timbers took the lead when a free kick from Miranda was met by the head of Thompson, whose header from 12 yards out was high and perfectly placed to the upper far corner and eluded Pascale's leap, and the Timbers had taken a 1-0 lead, though it took nearly three minutes for the scoreboard to acknowledge it.

In the 43rd minute, another wide scramble in front of the Timbers net resulted in no shots on goal, but the threat was only cleared by a spectacular bicycle kick clearance by Timbers defender Lee Morrison. The Kickers would get one last good look at goal before the halftime whistle, but Paul's shot from 15 yards out, though a good high hard shot, was snared easily by Saunders, the last save he would be forced to make on the night, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead at the half.

In the 58th minute, the Timbers would come within inches of doubling their lead when a through ball from Tom Poltl had Alvarez in alone, but his shot rang off right post, and Richmond goalkeeper Steve Ankiel, who replaced Pascale at the half, was able to cover the ball.

Eleven minutes later, the Kickers would have perhaps their best chance of the second half when a diagonal pass found Robert Ssejjemba open just inside the top of the box, but his attempt to take a quick shot was several yards wide left. Over the next ten minutes, it was one-way traffic for the Timbers, with Miranda and Thompson putting shots right at the Kickers goalkeeper, and an apparent goal by Alvarez waved off for offside.

In the 81st minute, the Timbers missed another great opportunity when a pass ahead from Miranda had Poltl in alone as Ankiel charged off his line, but Poltl could not keep the shot down and put the shot well over the bar.

But three minutes later the Timbers finally got that elusive second goal when a cross from Alcaraz-Cuellar was headed into the far corner from seven yards out by Antoniuk, and the Timbers had widened their lead to 2-0.

But the Timbers were not yet finished, and put the game away in the 88th minute when yet another cross from Alcaraz-Cuellar was headed home, this time by Alvarez, whose header slipped just inside the left post for the 3-0 lead. Neither team would threaten again, and with the 3-0 win, the Timbers surged past the Kickers, who have not won since July 9, and into 5th place, and a playoff date with the Seattle Sounders.

Josh Saunders had four saves, all in the first half, for the Timbers. Ronnie Pascale had two saves for the Kickers, while Steve Ankiel made five saves under a second half onslought from the Timbers.

Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was honored with the Timbers Supporters Player of the Year award at halftime, which was voted on by Timbers fans.