Kei Kamara's goal lifts Fire past Timbers

Kei Kamara scored his 144th MLS regular-season goal and the Chicago Fire recorded a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night to defeat the host Portland Timbers for the first time.

Kamara's goal in the 83rd minute broke a 1-1 tie as he moved within one of second-place Landon Donovan on the all-time list. Chris Wondolowski (171) is the leader.

Fabian Herbers scored an early goal and Brian Gutierrez had two assists for the Fire (4-6-8, 20 points), who improved to 1-5-5 all-time against the Timbers.

Franck Boli tallied for Portland (5-8-6, 21 points). The Timbers have scored just three goals in their last seven MLS matches.

Kamara, 38, entered the match in the 69th minute and he was stationed in the box when the Fire conducted a throw-in 14 minutes later.

Gutierrez received the ball and sent a pass toward Kamara, who got his head on the ball and one-bounced it into the net to put Chicago ahead. It was Kamara's fifth goal of the season.

Chris Brady had three saves for the Fire, who halted a six-match MLS winless stretch (0-3-3). Chicago is 2-5-2 on the road this season.

David Bingham made one save for Portland.

Chicago struck in the eighth minute when Gutierrez sent a centering pass to Herbers, who knocked a close-ranged, right-footed shot into the net. It was Herbers' second goal of the campaign.

Portland knotted the score in the 26th minute when Santiago Moreno set up Boli, who kicked a right-footer that hit the hand of Brady en route to going into the net. The goal was Boli's fifth of the season.

Portland had a 17-12 edge in shots and placed five on target to Chicago's three.

Jairo Torres of the Fire had big opportunities in the 30th and 52nd minutes.

On the first attempt, Torres' point-blank, right-footer was smothered by Bingham. On the latter, Torres' right-footed shot was just wide of the far post.

--Field Level Media