Marcel Hartel picked up a soggy St Louis and put them on his back Sunday afternoon, as the German striker netted both of City’s goals in the second half, posting a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at Energizer Park.

The Timbers struck first, when Portland’s Santiago Moreno set up David Da Costa’s right-footed shot outside the box, which rolled past Roman Bürki into the net. The scored remained 1-0 at the half, as Bürki recorded a save while three of City’s six shots were saved by Portland keeper Maxime Crépeau.

City’s drives into the attaching third finally paid off in the 54th minute. Célio Pompeu fed the ball into the box for Hartel, whose initial swing at goal went off a Portland defender, only to bounce forward, where Hartel sent it into the top left corner for the equalizer. City would attempt a set piece goal in the 67th minute, with Eduard Löwen’s direct kick saved by Crepeau, followed by Simon Becher making a close-range chip shot that curled away from goal. City controlled the rebound, as Conrad Wallem sent the ball back into the box, where Hartel rocketed in the game-winning header.

City outshot Portland 21-10, with twice as many shots on goal as the Timbers. The win—just the fourth for St Louis this season—has City now on 18 points, three clear of the LA Galaxy at the bottom of the Western Conference. City will travel to FC Dallas next Saturday, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.