After playing the home opener on a frigid Monday night, the Timbers were back to Saturday night soccer, hosting expansion franchise St. Louis City SC. The Following a hard-fought defeat in LA on March 4, the Timbers looked to get back in the win column against a red-hot CITY SC running on two wins in two games. It was the Timbers 400th game, and 200th home game, since entering MLS.Â
Portland punished St. Louis early—just three minutes into the game. A dangerous corner kick from Eryk Williamson found centerback Zac McGraw rising from a cluster of players in the box. Already a towering presence at 6’4, McGraw nailed a header into the bottom left corner of goalkeeper Roman Bürki. It was his first goal of 2023, following a breakout 2022 campaign—fittingly, the West Point grad saluted the fans in celebration.
Things turned grey for Portland in the 8th minute, midfielder Cristhian Paredes in an apparent non-contact play went down onto the turf, and had to be assisted by the medical team. After starting on the bench, Evander would be brought on.
A back-and-forth first half provided little opportunities for a second goal at Providence Park. Come first-half stoppage time, St. Louis would level the score. Following a whiffed ball from João Klauss, it would be midfielder Jared Stroud cleaning it up and sending it low past a standing Bingham. A 1-1 scoreline at the half, Portland and St. Louis headed back to the locker rooms looking to assert themselves in the second.
Portland came flying out of the gates. In the 49th minute, Nathan Fogaça hit a right-footed curler that went just above Bürki's top left corner. 12 minutes later, David Bingham stood tall, blocking a 1v1 St. Louis attack to keep the score level. Shortly afterwards in the 69th, Portland had their clearest chance for a second. Following a series of rebounds in the box, Moreno caught the ball near the penalty spot and guided it towards goal, but saved by Bürki.
As the Timbers searched for the game-winner, it would instead be St. Louis who jumped ahead in the 74th minute. A Eduard Löwen set-piece cross from the right near the City SC bench landed in the box and bounced off the turf. From eight yards out, a lurking Kyle Hiebert headed the ball past Bingham and a sliding McGraw. 1-2 St. Louis.
Following six minutes of stoppage time added to the match, Portland pushed heavy for an equalizer. Landing crosses in the box and earning corner kicks, a raucous Providence Park yearned for an equalizer. The game-tying goal never came, and St. Louis City SC walked away with the win.
One thing to note, Santiago Moreno participated in his 50th regular season game donning the green and gold. Portland will regroup and shift focus to Atlanta United with an upcoming trip to the Georgia capital. Matchday 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for 4:30pm PST on Saturday March 18.
