Win-or-go home playoff game. Portland weather in Mission Valley, foggy and damp. A full stadium of San Diegans, begging not to see another San Diego Sports Flop.

Those ingredients greeted first-seeded San Diego FC on Sunday when it faced the eighth-seeded Portland Timbers in a Major League Soccer first-round decider.

What followed was a refreshing break from sad tradition set by San Diego major sports teams when cast in the favorite’s role in a big game.

San Diego’s soccer newbies rewarded their fans, instead of deflating them.

They outplayed the other team from the start, rather than playing around.

They acted like a first seed ought to act, parlaying their opponent’s leaky defense into two quick goals, scoring a third crisp goal soon after halftime and going on to a 4-0 win.

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