There was nothing between the teams before the break, with the first half closing at 0-0. The game then produced a 1-1 regulation score that left the tie unresolved, and Portland kept their composure when it mattered most. In a night short on separation, the shootout supplied the decisive highlights.
The stats from the result are simple but telling: level at half-time, level again after 90 minutes, then Portland clear in the penalties. That turned a drawn match into a 5-3 overall score and gave the home side the edge in a contest that never opened up for long.
It also continued Portland's recent upper hand in this fixture. They had already beaten New York Cosmos 3-1 twice in USL League One meetings earlier in the year, and this latest summary added another success, even if it needed penalties.