PORTLAND, Ore. – One moment.
On Sunday afternoon, even at 2-2 in a match they'd trailed 2-0 at one point, that's all the Portland Timbers needed to sneak past the Houston Dynamo for a 3-2 win and three points that thrust them above the red line in the Western Conference.
It happened quickly, and much to the Dynamo's chagrin. Lucas Melano went down in the Dynamo box under contact from keeper Joe Willis, though it appeared the Houston goalkeeper got the ball first, and referee Hilario Grajeda quickly pointed to the spot before conferring with his assistant referee on the far sideline.
As the two men discussed the call, Diego Valeri, "the Maestro," stood with ball in hand, waiting to take the penalty kick. Would Grajeda still with his call or overturn it with time to bring in extra eyes?
"It was one of those things where it is kind of like it is in slow motion," Timbers defender Zarek Valentin told reporters after the match.
"It is kind of like a last second shot in a basketball game: you can see it going in, you can see it going out, and it is like," Valentin paused, making a bug-eyed expression and recoiling, "you don't know."
Veteran centerback Nat Borchers, a calming presence for the Timbers back line, took a more pragmatic approach to the moment.
"It was a high-anxiety moment because you weren't sure if they were going to turn around that decision or if they were going to continue in that direction," said Borchers, "so I was just thinking about the next play. If he doesn't call it, what do we do? If he does, it's a goal and we have got to make adjustments."
Of course, Grajeda stuck to his decision, and Valeri stepped up to bury the kick and seal the game. It was Valeri's second goal of the game, and 30th since joining the Timbers.
"I knew he was going to put it away," said Borchers. "He is very good with those penalty kicks. He has got a lot of confidence right now and that is good for us."
