PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers concluded their 2015 preseason schedule with a 1-0 win against Norwegian Tippeligaen club Stabæk in the final match of the 2015 Simple Invitational in front of 15,523 fans on Saturday night at Providence Park. The Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps FC played to a 1-1 draw in the opening match on Saturday.
After midfielder Jack Jewsbury struck the left post with a free kick in the 14th minute and midfielder/forward Dairon Asprilla saw a shot saved just minutes later, forward Fanendo Adi registered what would stand as the game-winning goal for the Timbers in the 31st minute. Defender Jorge Villafaña delivered a well-placed cross from the left flank that Adi was able to touch past Stabæk goalkeeper Mandé Sayouba inside the left post.
Adi’s first-half goal was enough to garner a result as Portland’s defense posted its third clean sheet in six preseason matches. Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey made five saves – including a leaping, one-handed parry to guide a curling shot over the crossbar early in the game. Portland (2-1-3 in preseason) finished its preseason slate conceding just three goals (including an own goal) in six matches with shutouts against Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes and Stabæk.
Substitute forward Maximiliano Urruti finished Saturday’s match with a team-high three shots, while Portland and Stabæk ended the game with five shots on goal apiece.
The Timbers nearly doubled their lead several times in the second half, including just 20 seconds into the half when midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe chipped the goalkeeper only to see his attempt cleared out of the goal box by a defender. Off a cross from midfielder Rodney Wallace, Urruti saw a strong header from near the penalty spot saved in the 68th minute and turned a shot wide of the right post in the 83rd minute.
Portland kicks off the 2015 season presented by Simple on Saturday, March 7, against Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) at Providence Park. Founded in 1975, the Timbers are celebrating their fifth MLS season and 40th year as a club in 2015.
Notes:
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Saturday’s match against Stabæk marked the first match in the Timbers’ 40-year history in which the team has played an opponent from Norway. Since 1975, Portland has played matches against teams from 16 different countries.
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Forward Fanendo Adi’s goal on Saturday marked his third goal against an international opponent as a member of the Timbers. Adi scored in both CONCACAF Champions League matches against Guyanese side Alpha United FC in 2014.
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The Timbers registered their third shutout of the preseason on Saturday night, finishing the six-game preseason schedule with a record of 2-1-3 overall with five goals scored and just three goals conceded.
- From Feb. 22-28, the 2015 Simple Invitational saw 41,431 fans attend matches at Providence Park during the tournament.
Next Game
Portland kicks off the 2015 season presented by Simple on Saturday, March 7, against Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) at Providence Park.
Portland Timbers vs. Stabæk (MLS Preseason)
Feb. 28, 2015 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Stabæk 0 0 0
Portland Timbers 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Adi (Villafaña), 31
Misconduct Summary:
STA: Issah (Caution), 70
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Adam Kwarasey, D Alvas Powell, D Nat Borchers, D Liam Ridgewell ©, D Jorge Villafaña (Jeanderson, 46), M Jack Jewsbury, M Darlington Nagbe (Tshuma, 81), M Blair Gavin* (Besler^, 81), F Dairon Asprilla (Fernández, 62), F Fanendo Adi (Urruti, 62), F Rodney Wallace
Substitutes Not Used: GK Weber, D Paparatto
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 8; OFFSIDES: 8; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
STA: GK Mandé Sayouba, D Ville Jalasto (Granli, 57), D Nicolai Næss, D Morton Skjønsberg, D Birger Solberg Meling, M Kamal Issah, M Giorgi Gorozia (Estrada, 89), M Cole Grossman (Benscik, 57), F Anders Trondsen, F Emil Ekblom (Haugstad, 75), F Luc Kassi
Substitutes Not Used: GK Singh Sandhu, D Hanche-Olsen, D Lange, M Dahle
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 7; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
* Trialist/guest player; ^ 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick
Attendance: 15,523
Weather: Clear, 55 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
