Chivas squeak past Portland Timbers

CARSON, Calif. (AP)

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Miller Bolanos scored his first MLS goal to lift Chivas USA to a 1-0 victory over Portland on Wednesday.

The 1 p.m. PDT kickoff was a first; the club had no such weekday start times in its eight-year history.

Bolanos' goal was just the 12th Chivas has scored in 18 games. It came at an opportune time against an opponent nearly even in the Western Conference standings. Chivas (6-7-5) now sits four points in front of Portland.

In the 16th minute, Ryan Smith dribbled past Portland's Steven Smith and held off defender Mamadou Danso before sending a ball across the goal area. Goalkeeper Troy Perkins dived but only got a hand to it. Bolanos finished into an empty net.

Bolanos, 22, played in just nine of the club's previous 17 games.

The Timbers (5-10-4) continued their road futility. Portland has been shut out seven times in nine road matches, having last scored a road goal on April 14. Since joining MLS in 2011, the Timbers have yet to score more than one goal in any road match, a span of 26 games.