PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers, energized by goals from Diego Chara and David Guzmán, ended their four-game losing streak with a resounding 2-0 win over Toronto FC Wednesday night at Providence Park.
Timbers Jorge Villafaña and Lucas Melano both made their 2018 debuts while goalkeeper Jeff Attinella and the defense earned their seventh clean sheet of the year.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
35' - CHANCE (POR) - Receiving the ball from Sebastián Blanco, Timbers teammate Diego Valeri dribbled into the area, cut the ball back to his right foot and fired for the back post but it was blocked away by a Toronto defender.
57' - CHANCE (POR) - Blanco burst forward on a 40-yard run down the left side. He cut into the area and arrowed a low shot that was pushed away by Toronto goalkeeper Clint Irwin only to fall in front of Reds defender Justin Morrow. Morrow tried to clear it and almost knocked it in for an own goal. On the ensuing corner kick, Blanco had a shot deflect wide of the right post for another corner. Then that corner kick, Blanco again shot from the top of the arc but the ball was saved by Irwin.
62' - CHANCE (POR) - Blanco again was creating opportunities as he and Samuel Armenteros combined midway through the second half. Armenteros dribbled up the middle, laid the ball off to Blanco on his left who then went on a mazy run into the box only to have his shot go high.
64' - GOAL (POR) - Portland jumped out to a lead with a great team goal in the 64th minute. Zarek Valentin sprung Blanco with a great ball forward in the right channel who then angled in towards goal, spied Diego Chara bombing forward on the left and rolled a cross directly to his feet. Chara quickly slotted it home for a 1-0 Timbers lead.
81' - SAVE (POR) - Toronto, pushing for an equalizer, had defender Jay Chapman slip down the right side and hit a hard, angled shot on target that Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella sprang to push away.
83' - GOAL (POR) - The Timbers doubled their lead late in the match with a great heads up play by David Guzmán. The midfielder spotted a pass to Toronto's Michael Bradley near the center of their half. Guzmán alertly snuck up on Bradley's back, picked his pocket before going 1v1 against the 'keeper. His low shot beat Irwin to make it 2-0 for Portland.
86' - CHANCE (POR) - Valeri threaded a ball to Lucas Melano – making his first appearance in 2018 after returning from his loan in Argentina – who had made a great run past the Toronto back line. Melano received the ball, cut his shot back towards the left post forcing a deft kick save from Irwin.
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The Portland Timbers take to the road to face the New England Revolution this Saturday, Sept. 1 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is 4:30pm PT on FOX 12 PLUS.
Portland Timbers (11-7-7, 40pts) vs. Toronto FC (7-13-6, 27pts)
Aug. 29, 2018 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Toronto FC 0 0 0
Portland Timbers 0 2 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Chara (Valentin, Blanco), 64
POR: Guzmán, 83
Misconduct Summary:
TOR: Delgado (caution), 32
POR: Guzmán (caution), 85
Lineups:
POR: GK Attinella, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Ridgewell, D Villafaña (Tuiloma, 80), M Chara, M Guzmán, M Polo (Flores, 76), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Armenteros (Melano, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Clark, D Farfan, M Olum, F Ebobisse
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Blanco, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Blanco, Guzmán, 2); FOULS: 10 (Chara, Valeri, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1
TOR: GK Irwin, D Hagglund, D Morrow, D Telfer (Morgan, 69), D Chapman, M Bradley ©, M Delgado, M Fraser (Zavaleta, 69), M Bakero (Hamilton, 76), F Janson, F Altidore
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bono, D Hernandez, F Akinola, F Ricketts
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Chapman, Janson, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Chapman, 1); FOULS: 14 (Altidore, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 6
Referee: Fotiz Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
VAR: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 21,144
Weather: Partly cloudy, 73 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
