Diego Chara, Evander listed to the Team of the Matchday bench.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers defenders Claudio Bravo and Larrys Mabiala were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for matchday 31, the league announced today. Bravo and Mabiala scored a goal each to help the Timbers earn a 2-0 shutout win against the defending MLS Champions, LAFC, on Sept. 9. Additionally, midfielders Evander and Diego Chara were named to the Team of the Matchday bench.
Bravo, 26, scored his second goal of the season on matchday 31. He doubled Portland’s lead against LAFC in the 53rd minute to secure three points at home. Defensively, Bravo recorded a team-best 12 possessions won, three tackles won and three interceptions made in the match.
Mabiala, 35, notched his first goal of the 2023 season and the ninth of his MLS career in the match against LAFC. In his first start for the Timbers since July 1, Mabiala scored Portland’s opening goal of the match in the 28th minute with his head. It marked his first goal in all competitions since the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and his first regular season goal since the 2020 season.
D. Chara, 37, recorded a team-best passing accuracy of 86.7% in his 90-minute performance against LAFC. He leads Portland in minutes played this season (2430) and is tied for fifth most amongst field players in MLS in 2023.
Evander, 25, led Portland in touches (64), duels won (9), successful dribbles (5) and chances created (3) in the Sept. 9 match. It marks a second consecutive week for the Brazilian midfielder to be honored on the Team of the Matchday list and his sixth time overall this year.
Up next, the Timbers will travel for a road match against Austin FC on Sunday, Sept. 17, at Q2 Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:30pm PT on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
