If there was a silver lining to Saturday’s disappointing 3-2 Portland Timbers loss to Real Salt Lake, it was in the play of midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe who had two goals on the night.
The second-year player was all over the field starting on the right flank, moving into an attacking mid position, and then jumping up top as forward. His first strike involved blowing past U.S. international and RSL captain Kyle Beckerman before confidently slotting home the shot in the lower left hand corner.
He topped this move with a beautiful volley that gave the Timbers the lead—albeit fleeting—in the 65’ minute and was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week as well.
Fellow Man of the Match nominees in midfielder Eric Alexander (an assist on each of Nagbe’s goal) and defender Eric Brunner both had solid matches but with 86% of the vote, Darlington Nagbe is your CenturyLink Man of the Match.
Darlington Nagbe - 86%
Eric Alexander - 10%
Eric Brunner - 4%
Congratulations to Darlington for picking up his second CenturyLink Man of the Match in 2012 and be sure to visit www.portlandtimbers.com/motm to vote for the next CenturyLink Man of the Match.
