Valeri, Adi strike as Portland thrashes expansion Minnesota United

The Portland Timbers spoiled Minnesota United's coming-out party, handing the expansion team a 5-1 defeat in its first MLS game on a rainy night at Providence Park.

The visitors had an early chance, with former Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino forcing Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson to make a save on a well-hit shot from distance in the 10th minute

But it was Portland that scored first, with new arrival Lawrence Olum heading home in the 14th minute from a set piece to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Minnesota failed to create chances to score, but the expansion team's defense held firm against the hosts' star-studded attack throughout the opening 45 minutes and went into the locker room down only a goal at the end of the first half.

However, just two minutes into the second half, Portland doubled its lead from a well-worked team move with Diego Valeri heading home from a Sebastian Blanco cross.

And Blanco nearly had Portland's third after a loose ball fell to the Argentine's feet at the top of the 18-yard box, only for the ensuing volley to skip just wide of the Minnesota goal.

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The Loons would not go away, though, and cut the lead in half just before the 80-minute mark. Christian Ramirez settled a Johan Venegas pass at the top of the penalty area, turned and fired past Gleeson to make it 2-1 to register the first MLS goal in Minnesota United's history.

Portland restored its two-goal lead just minutes later, though, when Valeri scored his second -- this time from the penalty spot -- after Fanendo Adi was hauled down in the area. 

And Adi would add his first goal of the 2017 campaign on the counter-attack, beating two defenders and Minnesota goalkeeper John Alvbage to make it 4-1.

To cap things off, Adi added a second with a brilliant piece of individual skill to beat three Minnesota defenders and put Portland up 5-1 in injury time.

The Timbers start 2017 with three points and a spot atop the Western Conference ahead of the rest of the weekend's action, while Minnesota will look to regroup ahead of a Week 2 meeting with fellow expansion team Atlanta United FC.