PORTLAND, Ore. -- Diego Valeri scored in the 13th minute and Donovan Ricketts earned his 10th shutout of the season, leading the Portland Timbers to a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Friday night. Valeri scored for the third straight match as the Timbers (11-5-13) moved one point ahead of the Rapids (12-9-9) for third place in the Western Conference. "The game wasnt pretty," Portland head coach Caleb Porter said. "We need to be able to win those games. I thought we were very professional how we managed the second half, especially. I continue to see a very positive evolution." On the games only scoring play, Rodney Wallace leapt to head a Colorado clearance back towards goal, and Valeri raced onto the loose ball and chipped a shot from 20 yards out over Rapids goalkeeper Clinton Irwin for his eighth goal of the season. Valeri continues to be a driving force for the Timbers, despite recent injury issues. Porter noted the quality of the goal, while acknowledging the need to manage Valeris playing time. "That (goal) was class, and thats what he is, a class player," Porter said. "This was an important game and we got a good 75 minutes out of him. I hope hes still OK, he got a little tight at the end. Hopefully we saved enough in the tank for him to go the next game." Colorado nearly tied it 25 minutes later, when Portlands Pa-Modou Kah and Mamadou Danso both missed on their attempts to clear a pass, allowing the ball to fall to Edson Buddle. However, the Rapids forward could only manage to blast his shot off the goalpost. Despite the loss, Colorado head coach Oscar Pareja believes his team will make the playoffs. "Of course," he said. "With the team you saw on the field today, of course. I saw a team full of character." Both teams next face conference rivals for playoff positions. 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Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week.NEW ORLEANS - Pierre Thomas kept his body compact and his thick legs churning, bursting through thin seams in the Tampa Bay defence, slipping away from some tacklers and surging through others.Eight seasons after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Thomas still comes up with the big gains on screen passes and on the ground that have been the hallmarks of his career.On Sunday, Thomas had 112 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, the Saints overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime, and Thomas understudy, Khiry Robinson, capped a 37-31 victory with a tackle-breaking 18-yard touchdown run.Few were more thankful for Thomas performance than star quarterback Drew Brees, whose three interceptions put the Saints (2-3) in danger of falling into last place in the NFC South.Brees called Thomas everything youd want in a teammate in regards to not only his production on game day but throughout the week.He can do it all, Brees added. Hes one of the best all-purpose backs in the league, no question, and hes been that for a long time.With a shoulder injury forcing tight end Jimmy Graham from the game in the second quarter, Brees still passed for 371 yards. But he also misfired 22 times, finishing 35 of 57.Thomas became one of Brees top targets, catching eight passes for 77 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown on a screen pass. He rushed for 35 yards, highlighted by his 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.Robinson rushed 21 times for 89 yards. Thomas, Robinson and fellow running back Travaris Cadet combined for 228 yards from scrimmage and four TDs.We dug deep and did what we have to do to win, Thomas said. We never gave up hope. We kept fighting, fighting and fighting. It shows how much heart we have.The Buccaneers (1-4) hurt themselves with 15 penalties for 113 yards, none more damaging than the flag on cornerback Johnthan Banks in overtime for illegal hands to the face as Brees threw incomplete on third down.The penalties really hurt us, Bucs coach Lovie Smith said, adding that infractions like the one Banks committed are ones you just cant make.Tampa Bay quarterback Mike Glennon was 19 for 32 for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once in the first half and sacked by Junior Galette for a safety in the fourth quarter.Starting for Josh McCown (injured thumb), Glennon nearlly got his second straight victory in a stadium where the Bucs have not won since the last game of the 2010 regular season.dddddddddddd That was also the last time the Saints lost in the Superdome with coach Sean Payton a€” who was suspended in 2012 a€” roaming the sideline.Tampa Bay held a two-score lead early in the fourth quarter after Glennons 9-yard pass to Robert Herron, capping a drive highlighted by a 34-yard completion to Vincent Jackson.The Saints cut it 31-26 on Thomas rushing TD, then failed to convert a 2-point try. But with the Superdome crowd roaring, the Bucs offence seemed to unravel. A holding penalty was followed by a botched snap, then a pair of pre-snap penalties that backed Tamp Bay up against its goal line.We were up five at the time and would have liked to have moved the ball and get points, but at least push them back so they didnt have great field position, Glennon said. It was not well-executed by us and its something well look at.The series ended when Galette stunted inside behind defensive end Cameron Jordans outside pass rush and had a free run at Glennon for a safety that made it a 31-28.I saw the opening and shot it, Galette said.New Orleans then capped the next drive with Shayne Grahams 44-yard field goal to tie it with 2:30 left.The Bucs did not score until Patrick Murrays 55-yard field goal made it 13-3 with 1:54 left in the second quarter. Soon after, Banks cut in front of Cadet for an interception on the Saints 40. Glennon then found receiver Louis Murphy for a 20-yard score to make it 13-10.Bobby Raineys 9-yard run made it 17-13 early in the third quarter. Brees then threw his second interception as he was bumped and falling backward. Danny Lansanah grabbed the errant throw and galloped 33 yards for his second touchdown on an interception this season.Brees responded with a 5-yard TD pass to Cadet, setting up a wild fourth quarter.NOTES: In addition to Jimmy Graham, the Saints also lost C Jonathan Goodwin (knee) and LB Ramon Humber (ankle) to injuries during the game. ... The Bucs did not announce any injuries. ... Brees surpassed 40,000 yards passing with the Saints in his 132nd game with the club. 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