Bongokuhle Hlongwane of Minnesota United celebrates scoring winner against the T.imbers

Minnesota United Bongokuhle Hlongwane (left) celebrates scoring the game-winning goal in the final seconds to beat the Portland Timbers 1-0 Saturday at Providence Park. 

 PMG Photo: Diego G. Diaz

At the end of a gut-it-out week, the Portland Timbers were moments away from a result that, while hardly exciting, was explainable on Saturday at Providence Park.

Then Minnesota United forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane delivered a gut-punch with a counterattack goal seconds before the final whistle to send the visitors to a 1-0 win over the stunned Timbers.

Paul Danzer is a sports reporter based in Portland, Ore.

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