Editor's Note: With the Portland Timbers set to play in their first ever MLS Cup on Dec. 6 against Columbus Crew SC (1pm PT, ESPN), we take a look at some of the key moments in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs that got them to this point.
Things were getting a little anxious.
The Portland Timbers were down 2-1 in the second half of extra time in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoff Knockout Round game against Sporting Kansas City. With just three minutes left in the game, the Timbers were pushing more and more numbers forward in search of a game-tying goal.
Finally, in the 118th minute, they found it.
Off of a throw-in just a few feet from the end line, midfielder Dairon Asprilla received the ball with his back to goal. The Colombian trapped the ball with his right foot, turned his defender and, his body now turned towards the KC goal, struck a low, hard cross with his right foot.
At the other end of that cross was Maximiliano Urruti. The forward had been left unmarked at the far post. When Asprilla's cross came at him, Urruti got his right leg to the ball and re-directed the cross past Sporting goalkeeper Jon Kempin.
In a matter of seconds, Asprilla and Urruti – both extra-time substitutes – combined beautifully to keep alive the Timbers' playoff dreams.
It was the latest goal in the Timbers’ MLS era across all competitions. Urruti beat his old record (116th minute), which was set on June 15 in a 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Said Timbers head coach Caleb Porter after the game, "We sub on Asprilla and Maxi and Asprilla steps up, gets a cross in – great ball – and Maxi smashes the goal. You need plays like that. Those guys come in off the bench and they make a play. It’s 2-2 and then now we’re in PKs."
The story of how the Timbers went on to win the game in the aforementioned penalty kick shootout, is moment for another Road to MLS Cup story...
