SANDY, Utah – Sebastián Blanco contributed two goals and an assist, Jeremy Ebobisse added a goal and assist of his own while Lucas Melano added another tally late – his first since returning from on loan – as the Portland Timbers roared to a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
33' - GOAL (POR) - The Timbers jumped out to a 1-0 lead as the Portland produced a good team goal. Bill Tuiloma knocked the ball forward into the attacking third for Diego Chara. Chara found Zarek Valentin who passed it through to Blanco open in the right channel. Blanco surged to the endline before he chipped it across the face of goal for Ebobisse who then deftly knocked into the bottom right corner.
41' - SAVE (POR) - Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark kept things close when he came off his line to deny a dangerous shot from RSL's Jefferson Savarino.
48' - CHANCE (POR) - Andy Polo threaded a ball forward to Ebobisse who went to the endline on the left side. He cut the ball back to Blanco who hammered a shot from close range that forced a strong save from Real Sal Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
52' - SAVE (POR) - Clark made another important save when he pushed over the bar a curling shot from RSL's Joao Plata.
55' - GOAL (RSL) - Real Salt Lake pulled even at 1-1 when Plata combined with Savarino with a 1-2 passing combination. Savarino scored when he hit his shot inside the far post past Clark.
58' - CHANCE (POR) - Valeri served in a long free kick that found Tuiloma in the box. His flicked header towards goal forcing a diving stop from Rimando.
70' - GOAL (POR) - The Timbers regained the lead when Blanco followed up the rebound of his chipped ball into the box. He cut to his left and nailed his sharp-angled shot past Rimando to put Portland up at 2-1.
73' - GOAL (POR) - Three minutes later, Blanco earned a brace when he took a nicely weighted ball from Valeri on the left side and scored a golazo into the far right corner for a 3-1 Timbers lead.
88' - GOAL (POR) - The Timbers iced the win when second half sub Lucas Melano pounced on a bad throw-in from RSL's Nick Besler deep in their own end. Melano intercepted, rounded Rimando and tapped the ball into an open net for a 4-1 lead.
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The Portland Timbers have a week off next weekend due to international play before returning home to host Real Salt Lake at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is 2pm PT on ROOT SPORTS.
Portland Timbers (14-9-9, 51pts) vs. Real Salt Lake (13-12-7, 46pts)
Oct. 6, 2018 – Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 3 4
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Ebobisse (Blanco), 33
RSL: Savarino (Plata), 55
POR: Blanco, 70
POR: Blanco (Valeri, Ebobisse), 73
POR: Melano, 88
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Chara (caution), 26
POR: Guzmán (caution), 55
RSL: Beckerman (caution), 58
POR: Sunny (caution), 66
POR: Valeri (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Tuiloma (Cascante, 68), D Villafaña, M Guzmán, M Chara, M Polo (Asprilla, 90+1), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Ebobisse (Melano, 77)
Substitutes Not Used: GK McIntosh, M Olum, M Paredes, M Flores
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Blanco, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Blanco, 3); FOULS: 9 (Asprilla, Ebobisse, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 2
RSL: GK Rimando, D Lennon, D Besler, D Glad, D Herrera (Saucedo, 80), M Kreilach, M Beckerman ©, M Rusnák, F Savarino, F Baird (Sunny, 63), F Plata
Substitutes Not Used: GK Putna, D Barry, D Onuoha, M Mulholland, F L. Silva
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Savarino, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Plata, 2); FOULS: 10 (Beckerman, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Corey Rockwell
4th Official: Drew Fischer
VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Attendance: 20,034
Weather: Cloudy, 51 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
