The Portland TImbers opened their first Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League action since 2016 with goals from Felipe Mora and, forcing an own goal, Diego Valeri, but by equalizing twice on their home field, Honduras's C.D. Marathón was able to salvage a 2-2 draw, leaving the teams even ahead of next Tuesday's Round of 16 second leg at Providence Park.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
Match Moments
4' — CHANCE (POR) — A ball lofted deep to the right side of Marathón's penalty area is chased down by Felipe Mora before a pass back to Yimmi Chara. A Denovan Torres save sends the ball out for the match's first corner.
6' — CHANCE (POR) — Another ball over the top of the defense is chased down by Mora, who this time finds an oncoming Diego Chara. The midfielder's square ball for Diego Valeri earns a second corner after another block keeps the Portland captain's shot from testing goal.
11' — CHANCE (POR) — Contesting a ball against two defenders near the Marathón byline, Yimmi Chara manages a near-post cross, where Valeri gets a lofted foot to the ball. His redirection goes off the crossbar and to the back post, where Claudio Bravo is out-battled for the rebound, resulting in another Portland corner.
19' — CHANCE (POR) — Another Mora layoff, made against a recovering defense, finds Valeri at the edge of the penalty area, only he has more time than before. Trying to get his right foot around the ball, Valeri puts the ball high and wide, giving Marathón the goal kick.
25' — CHANCE (POR) — More success for Portland going over the top, only this time it's Dairon Asprilla, coming in from the right wing to claim a ball just outside the penalty area. With a defender on his back, Asprilla dribbls toward goal before aiming for the far post with this right foot. It's the best chance yet for the Timbers, but it goes wide.
27' — CHANCE (POR) — The Timbers are quickly back on top of Marathón, with a ball from the left finding Eryk Williamson in the middle of the area. With a FIFA-esque move, Williamson flips the ball over his defender, setting up an open volley on goal. Unfortunately, the shot finds the Marathón goalkeeper and goes out for a corner.
35' — GOAL (POR) — The Timbers finally break through, and it's via Mora. After Josecarlos Van Rankin drifted from his right-back position to the left flank, the Mexican defender clipped a ball back toward the penalty spot, where Mora was able to chest the pass down before finishing inside the near post.
39' — GOAL (MAR) — Marathón equalizes quickly, and with their first chance of the match. Running onto a ball played behind Van Rankin, Edwin Solano takes a touch to set up his cross before firing a ball through the six-yard box. Unmarked in the middle of goal, Brayan Castillo redirects the equalizer home, making it 1-1.
44' — CHANCE (MAR) — A hopeful ball over the Portland defense gives Marathón a chance to cross to the edge of the Timbers' six-yard box. There, Kevin Hoyos keeps Van Rankin on his hip while trying to redirect a shot toward Steve Clark. The ball hits Van Rankin, never makes it on goal, and is smothered by Clark.
54' — SAVE (POR) — Portland's defense gets caught pushing upfield on a set piece as a restart is sent back toward the penalty spot. Reacting quickly to a headed shot, Clark gets down and to his right to keep the score even.
57' — CHANCE (POR) — A looping run around the masses on a Portland penalty kick allows Yimmi Chara to stride onto a pass near the penalty spot. His shot goes right to the Marathón keeper.
59' — GOAL (POR) — Though it will go down officially as an own goal, it's Valeri that forces the score off a free kick, putting a roughly 26-yard shot off the crossbar, off the Marathón `keeper and into the left of goal.
68' — GOAL (MAR) — For the second time, Marathón has equalized, with a cutback from Marlon Ramírez off a feed from Kelvin Arriaga allowing the substitute to put a left-footed shot on goal. A deflection helps Ramírez beat Clark, making it 2-2.
82' — SAVE (POR) — Clark comes up big on a Marathón corner, diving to prevent a goal after Mathias Tchera heads an outswinging corner.
Portland Timbers vs. C.D. Marathón – 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League – Round of 16 (Leg 1)
April 6, 2021 – Estadio Olimpico (San Pedro Sula, Honduras)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 1 2
C.D. Marathón 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Mora (Van Rankin), 35
CDM: Castillo (Solano), 39
POR: Own goal (Torres), 59
CDM: Ramírez (Arriaga), 68
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Williamson (caution), 77
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark, D Van Rankin, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Bravo (Bonilla, 76), M D. Chara, M Williamson (Paredes, 88), M Y. Chara (Loría, 76), M D. Valeri ©, M Asprilla, F Mora (Jome, 90+2)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, D Tuiloma, M Zambrano
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Valeri, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 ; FOULS: 18 (Williamson, 7); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
CDM: GK Torres, D Perdomo, D García (Ramírez, 64), D Techera, D Vega, M Suazo (Crisanto, 46), M Arriaga, M Izaguirre, M Solano (Guevara, 83), F Castillo, F Hoyos (Calix, 46)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Villanueva, M Motiño, F Palermo
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Techera, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 ; FOULS: 15 (Four players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 3
Referee: César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos
Assistant Referees: Alberto Morín Méndez, Michel Alejandro Morales Morales
4th Official: Óscar Macías Romo
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
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