Sporting KC entered Sunday’s match against the Portland Timbers with an impressive regular season shutout streak against the reigning MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers. Ike Opara had no plans for that streak to end.
Sporting Kansas City’s strapping center back delivered a resolute performance at rainy Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday, anchoring the backline in a 1-0 victory that saw the Timbers extend their scoreless skid in the regular season series to 482 minutes.
Opara, who helped limit an explosive Portland side to a single shot on goal, landed MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors on Monday as his team won its fifth straight home game and moved five points ahead of Portland in the ultra-competitive Western Conference playoff race.
Opara added four clearances, four interceptions, completed 88 percent of his passes and further endeared himself to the Children’s Mercy Park faithful, limiting the effect of Timbers attacking trio Fanendo Adi, Lucas Melano and Diego Valeri.
– Story from Sporting KC