James Pantemis’ heroics, Kristoffer Velde goal come up short as Portland drops Match 1

James Pantemis was holding the line.

For the first 20 minutes of Match 1 in MLS’s first-round playoffs — ultimately a 2-1 San Diego FC win — the Portland goalkeeper kept the Timbers afloat. He weathered a barrage from a top-seeded San Diego attack that only grew stronger with each minute.

He dove to save an Ian Pilcher header in the 7th minute. He pushed a Luca Bombino one-timer over the bar in the 9th.

Each time San Diego was denied, it regrouped.

When Onni Valakari finally broke through in the 23rd minute — hammering in a close-range strike after a shot off the post — pyrotechnics behind Pantemis’ net exploded into the air. The dynamite had finally blasted through the rock. The wall appeared demolished — even more so seven minutes later when Andes Dreyer headed home a pass from Bombi