was expected to miss several weeks. The next day it was announced that the Timbers would host the U.S. Open Cup qualification semifinal match vs. San Jose Earthquakes at Jeld-Wen Field on May 3. San Jose originally won hosting rights for the game through a preseason coin toss but was unable to secure a venue in time. Portland recorded another club first on April 13 when the Timbers signed their first ever Designated Player, Diego Chará. The 25-year-old Colombian midfielder, who was a childhood friend and recent teammate of Jorge Perlaza at Deportes Tolima, was expected to join the Timbers after acquiring his P-1 visa. It was later revealed, when the players union released salary figures for all MLS players, that Chará's salary was well below the level usually associated with Designated Players and his designation as such was due to the transfer fee paid by the Timbers to Tolima. Chicago Fire were the Timbers opponents for the first ever MLS game in Portland on April 14. Fans lined up outside Jeld-Wen Field hours before kickoff in a steady downpour that would last throughout the night. Prior to kickoff, the Timbers Army sang the national anthem en masse while accompanied by fireworks and subsequently revealed a large tifo display celebrating the city of Portland. A boisterous sell-out crowd of 18,627 watched as Jorge Perlaza scored his first goal for the Timbers in the 29th minute to give Portland their first lead of the season. Less than 10 minutes later, the Timbers were up 2–0 after a long-range goal from defender Rodney Wallace. The dream start to Portland's home opener continued just after halftime when Perlaza pounced on a spilled rebound by Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson to give the Timbers a 3–0 lead. Chicago attempted to stage a comeback after a 65th minute own goal by Eric Brunner and an AT&T Goal of the Week nominee blast by Marco Pappa in the 80th minute brought the Fire to within a single goal of the Timbers. Portland put the game beyond reach after a goal mouth scramble in the 84th minute restored the Timbers two-goal lead thanks to an own goal by Chicago defender Dasan Robinson. Portland held on for the 4–2 win, the club's first in league play. The Timbers were back in Jeld-Wen Field three days later as they hosted FC Dallas in front of a second consecutive sell-out crowd.