PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers defeated Toronto FC 2-1 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon, extending their unbeaten run in league play to three games. Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri provided a goal and an assist, while forward Fanendo Adi scored his seventh goal of the season during the win, continuing the Timbers undefeated record at home against Toronto FC (2-0-1).
- VOTE: Man of the Match
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Opta Chalkboard
The Timbers (3-3-3, 12pts) struck early in the match when Adi found the back of the net just 17 minutes into the first half, marking the quickest goal for Portland in MLS play so far this season. The finish stemmed from a quick combination play between Valeri and forward Darren Mattocks on the edge of the area, with Valeri quickly playing the ball across the six-yard box to Adi, who calmly tucked it into the back of the net to move into a tie for the league lead for goals scored this season (7).
With five minutes remaining in the opening half, Toronto (3-3-2, 11pts) managed to level the score when midfielder Will Johnson placed a shot into the bottom corner after the ball landed to him on the edge of the box.
But, in the 74th minute of play, Valeri, who entered Sunday’s game ranking fifth in MLS for chances created from open play (15), scored the game-winner with a sharp free kick from distance, bending an effort that curled over the wall and into the back of the net.
With the finish, Valeri recorded his second goal of the season and 25th regular-season goal since joining the Timbers in 2013, while also becoming the only MLS player to score multiple free kicks in 2016, previously finishing from a set piece against Columbus Crew SC on March 6.
Recording 12 tackles and winning 35 duels, the Timbers were solid on the defensive end, including four saves from goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, who made his second consecutive start during Sunday’s match. Following a close-range save on Toronto forward Jozy Altidore’s header in the 63rd minute, Gleeson produced an acrobatic save to deny midfielder Michael Bradley’s powerful strike in the 77th minute of play, before stopping another point-blank header in stoppage time.
Next up, the Timbers will face Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday, May 7; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific). The match against Vancouver will feature a live broadcast on KPTV FOX 12 with local radio broadcast on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (3-3-3, 12pts) vs. Toronto FC (3-3-2, 11pts)
May 1, 2016 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Toronto FC 1 0 2
Portland Timbers 1 1 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Adi (Valeri, Mattocks), 17
TOR: Johnson, 40
POR: Valeri, 74
Misconduct Summary:
TOR: Perquis (Caution), 56
POR: Ridgewell (Caution), 61
POR: Asprilla (Caution), 82
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Valentin, D Borchers, D Ridgewell ©, D Klute, M Chara, M Nagbe, M Valeri (Jewsbury, 90), F Melano (Asprilla, 80), F Adi, F Mattocks (Zemanski, 55)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton, D Barmby, D Taylor, F McInerney
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Adi, 4) ; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Valeri, 2); FOULS: 18 (Two players tied, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 4
TOR: GK Irwin, D Beitashour (Chapman, 88), Perquis, D Moor, D Morrow, M Endoh (Babouli, 77), M Bradley ©, M Johnson, M Delgado, F Altidore, F Giovinco
Substitutes Not Used: GK Roberts, D Williams, D Bloom, D Zavaleta, M Chapman, M Lovitz
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Giovinco, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Johnson, 2); FOULS: 10 (Altidore, 4) ; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Baboucarr Jallow
Attendance: 21,144
Weather: Sunny 70 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
