The Lions entered the game at Providence Park riding a two-game unbeaten run with both of those games on the road.

And just when it looked like Orlando City would continue the momentum, Diego Valeri’s two-goal performance diminished those hopes as the Portland Timbers stamped a 3-0 win over the Lions.

“I think that for whatever reason, in my opinion, our guys didn’t show up to compete tonight,” Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis said. “There’s been very rare occasions this year that I’ve felt that strongly about that situation, but tonight was definitely one of them. Incredible to me, incredible, especially after the last couple of performances we’ve had and the work the guys have put in that they came into what I think was arguably the most important game of the season tonight and didn’t give their best.”

Diego Valeri gave the Timbers the lead in the 15th minute after converting a penalty kick past goalkeeper Joe Bendik. Darren Mattocks doubled the lead after finishing a cross from Dairon Asprilla in the 29th minute.

The Lions (9-13-8, 35 points) went down a player when Jonathan Spector picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Valeri, and was ejected from the game in the 47th minute.

Valeri capped the scoring for the Timbers and secured his league-leading 20th goal of the season after notching his brace in the 59th minute.

The Lions finished the match with nine players when Victor PC Giro was issued a straight red for an alleged elbow to the face to Diego Chara in the 84th minute.

Orlando returns home on Wednesday when it hosts the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium.

Here’s how the Lions lined up: 

Orlando City Starting XI: Bendik; Toia, Spector, Redding, Sutter; Nocerino, Powers, Yotun, Barnes; Larin, Dwyer.

Orlando City Bench: Edwards, PC, Hines, Carrasco, Kaká, Laryea, Rivas.

(Photo Courtesy of Portland Timbers) 

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