RECAP | Timbers fall to Philadelphia Union 3-1 at home

Jonathan Rodríguez scores first goal for Portland in MLS debut

PORTLAND, Ore – The Portland Timbers fell to Eastern Conference side Philadelphia Union 3-1 at Providence Park on Saturday night. In his MLS debut, Designated Player Jonathan Rodríguez scored his first goal for Portland, logging a 90-minute performance in his first match at Providence Park. The Timbers are back on the road to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 30 at BC Place.

2024 Debuts
Newly acquired forward Jonathan Rodríguez made his Timbers debut in tonight’s match, playing 90 minutes and registering his first goal in Green and Gold. The club’s newest Designated Player became the 12^th player in club history to score a goal in his Timbers debut. Felipe Mora made his first appearance of the season tonight, checking into the match as a second-half substitute and logging 25 minutes.

Goal-Scoring Plays
PHI – Julian Carranza (Kai Wagner), 28th minute: From a corner kick, Kai Wagner served the ball into the box to find Julian Carranza, who finished the play with a header into the top-right corner of the goal.

PHI – Quinn Sullivan, 58th minute: Philadelphia forced a save on Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis. Off the rebound, Quinn Sullivan shot a right-footed ball into the right-corner of the goal.

PHI – Julian Carranza (Mikael Uhre), 67th minute: Mikael Uhre crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where Julian Carranza sprinted to and finished the play with a right-footed shot.

POR – Jonathan Rodríguez (Santiago Moreno), 80th minute: From just outside of the box on the right side of the pitch, Santiago Moreno served a cross towards the back post finding Jonathan Rodríguez, who redirected the ball with his head into the back of the net.

Notes

• Tonight’s loss was the first of the season for Portland when playing at Providence Park (1-1-1).
• The result snapped a two-game unbeaten streak against Eastern Conference teams this season (1-1-1).
• The Timbers outshot their opponent for the second time this season, 18-15.
• Eighteen shots and six shots on goal mark season highs for Portland this year.
• Newly acquired forward Jonathan Rodríguez made his Timbers debut in tonight’s match, playing 90 minutes and registering his first goal in Green and Gold.
• The club’s newest Designated Player became the 12^th player in club history to score a goal in their Timbers debut.
• Rodríguez attempted five shots in this game, the highest total for a Timbers player in MLS play this season.
• Santiago Moreno recorded his second assist of the season, tying Juan Mosquera for the team lead.
• Moreno is the only Timbers player to play every minute of every match this season (450).
• James Pantemis made his second appearance in Green and Gold tonight.
• The Timbers attempted 671 passes in this game, their highest total in a single MLS match since the start of last season.
• Portland completed 579 passes for a passing accuracy of 86.3%.
• Zac McGraw finished the match with 93 of 102 passes completed for a match-best accuracy of 91.2%.

Next GameUp next, the Timbers will travel to face the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday, March 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will stream on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Video Highlights
Highlights of the match can be downloaded by clicking here.

Portland Timbers (2-2-1, 7pts) vs. Philadelphia Union (1-0-3, 6pts)
March 23, 2024 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
Philadelphia Union 1 2 3

Scoring Summary:
PHI: Carranza (Wagner), 28
PHI: Sullivan, 58
PHI: Carranza (Uhre), 67
POR: Rodríguez (Moreno), 80

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Chara (caution), 25
PHI: Sullivan (caution), 32
PHI: Elliot (caution), 40
PHI: Semmle (caution), 88
PHI: Uhre (caution), 90+6

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Mosquera (Asprilla, 75), D Zuparic, D McGraw, D E. Miller (Ayala, 65), M Chara © (Mora, 65), M Williamson (Paredes, 75), M Moreno, M Evander, F Antony, F Rodríguez (Fogaça, 90+7)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Mabiala

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Rodríguez, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Evander, 3); FOULS: 13 (Chara, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4, SAVES: 2

PHI: GK Semmle, D Elliot, D Glesnes, D Mbaizo, D Wagner, M Bedoya ©, M Rafanello, M Sullivan, F Uhre, F Carranza, F Anderson (Donovan, 84)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Rick, D Makhanya, D Real, M Ngobo

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Uhre, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Uhre, Carranza, 2); FOULS: 19 (Uhre, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5, SAVES: 5

Referee: Cristian Campo Hernandez
Assistant Referees: Fevzi Granados
Fourth Official: Ryan Jung
VAR: Dave Gantar
Weather: Cloudy, 54 degrees
Attendance: 23,046

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.