MLS: Colorado 3, Portland 1

COMMERCE CITY, Colo., March 20 (UPI) -- Omar Cummings scored for the Colorado Rapids Saturday and the defending MLS Cup champs opened their season with a 3-1 victory over expansion club Portland.

Cummings scored in his fourth straight season opener -- the only MLS player ever to do so -- and Jeff Larentowicz and Jamie Smith also had goals for Colorado (1-0-0).

The Rapids won their eighth consecutive home opener.

The Timbers, meanwhile, marked their MLS debut with the loss.

Kenny Cooper got the goal for Portland (0-1-0).