Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha (14) holds onto Portland Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) during an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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SANDY, Utah (AP) - Diego Valeri and Sebastián Blanco each scored and the Portland Timbers beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday night for their third consecutive victory.
Following a 3-3 tie with Colorado to open the season, Portland (3-5-1) lost five in a row before the winning streak.
Valeri gave the Timbers the lead for good in the 68th minute. He tapped it to Sebastián Blanco, whose shot from the center of the area was blocked by Real Salt Lake's Justen Glad but rolled directly to Valeri, who first-timed a side-netter through the legs of two defenders.
Valeri became the seventh player in MLS history, and the only the only active player, with at least 70 goals and 70 assists.
Blanco ripped a shot from the top of the area between a pair of defenders that was stopped by goalkeeper Andrew Putna but then chased down the rebound and first-timed the finish to make it 1-0 in the 34th minute.
Sam Johnson bounced a sliding roller from the top of the box off the post and into the neat to make it 1-1 in the 62nd.
Real Salt Lake (3-6-1) has lost two games in row and six of its last eight.
Portland Timbers midfielders Diego Chara (21) and Sebastian Blanco (10) pressure Real Salt Lake forward Jefferson Savarino during an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Real Salt Lake forward Sam Johnson, front, misses a foot on the ball in front of Portland Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark, top, during an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Portland Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark makes a save on a penalty kick by Real Salt Lake in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha (14) line-drives against Portland Timbers defender Larrys Mabiala (33) on a corner kick during an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Real Salt Lake defender Donny Toia, left, and Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma (25) vie for possession of the ball during an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Portland Timbers midfielder Sebastian Blanco (10) scores a goal against Real Salt Lake in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Portland Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) celebrates after saving a penalty kick off Real Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnak (11) in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Portland Timbers defender Larrys Mabiala (33) is checked for a concussion during the first half of the team's MLS soccer match against the Portland Timbers, Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Sandy, Utah. (Leag Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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Portland Timbers defender Larrys Mabiala (33) reacts to Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark (12) saving a penalty kick off Real Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnak (11) in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
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