BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco had a goal and an assist as the Portland earned their second straight point on the road, drawing 2-2 with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
Portland midfielder Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the year while the Fire's Nemanja Nikolic and Brandon Vincent scored for Chicago.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
6' - GOAL (POR): The Timbers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as midfielder Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the 2018 season. Sebastián Blanco, leading a charge forward, found an open Valeri on his right who received the pass and deftly chipped the ball past goalkeeper Richard Sánchez.
Maestro's first of the season set up beautifully by Blanco. Sit back, relax and enjoy. #RCTID#CHIvPORpic.twitter.com/LhysTK71pv
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) March 31, 2018
35' - CHANCE (POR): Following a crossed ball into the box by Portland's Cristhian Paredes, the ball bounced around with Fanendo Adi before finding the feet of Blanco. Blanco hit a hard, point-blank shot that Sanchez managed to deflect off the cross bar and away.
50' - GOAL (CHI): The Fire tied the game at 1-1 in the second half as a cross in from Brandon Vincent found forward Nemanja Nikolic in the six-yard box who tapped it in.
55' - GOAL (POR): The Timbers regained the lead when Blanco leapt high to head home a pinpoint cross from Andrés Flores and put Portland up 2-1. It was Blanco's team-leading third goal of the year.
Blanco ➡️ Flores ➡️ Blanco ➡️ 🥅 #RCTID#CHIvPORpic.twitter.com/n1GtxU612w
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) March 31, 2018
84' - GOAL (CHI): Brendan Vincent made it 2-2 for Chicago when he headed home a goal near the back post.
89' - SAVE (POR): Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson kept the score even when he dove to his left to deny a header on frame from Chicago forward Alan Gordon.
The Timbers next play Orlando City SC on April 8, 2018 at Orlando City Stadium (ESPN, 1pm PT).
Portland Timbers (0-2-2, 2pts) vs. Chicago Fire (0-2-1, 1pts)
March 31, 2018 – Toyota Park (Bridgeview, Ill.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 1 2
Chicago Fire 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Valeri (Blanco), 6
CHI: Nikolic (Vincent, Schweinsteiger), 50
POR: Blanco (Flores), 55
CHI: Vincent (Schweinsteiger), 84
Misconduct Summary:
CHI: Katai (Caution), 12
POR: Valeri (Caution), 52
Lineups:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Tuiloma, D Farfan (Vytas, 82), M Flores, M Chara, M Flores (Cascante, 87), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Adi (Armenteros, 90)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, M Barmby, M Asprilla, M Polo
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Blanco, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 9 (Paredes, Blanco ,2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1
CHI: GK Sanchez, D Ellis (Gordon, 75), D Kappelhof, D Dean, D Vincent, M McCarty, M Tchani (Conner, 59), M Collier, M Schweinsteiger, M Katai (Campos, 46), F Nikolic
Substitutes Not Used: GK McLain, D Lillard, M Bronico, F Bakero
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Nikolic, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 9 (Katai, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 1
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jeremy Kieso
4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Alan Kelly
Attendance: 13,678
Weather: Partly cloudy, 47 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
