HOUSTON – In a close and hard fought first leg of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals, the Portland Timbers fought to a 0-0 draw Monday night against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium in front of a crowd of 15,169.
Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made two key saves and the defense held strong to earn the clean sheet. The two teams will play at Providence Park in the second leg of the total goal aggregate series on Nov. 5.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
6' - CHANCE (POR) - With a clever pass, Portland's Diego Chara sprung Diego Valeri on the left as he sped past the Houston back line. His cross found Darlington Nagbe in the middle but the midfielder's shot went wide right.
30' - VAR - On a play in the in box between Houston's Alberth Elis and Portland's Larrys Mabiala, referee Robert Sibiga originally ruled a penalty kick for the Dynamo. However, upon video review, the penalty kick awarded to the Dynamo was overturned due to no foul being committed.
51' - SAVE (POR) - On a dangerous throughball to Houston's Elis, Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella came off his line to smother the ball and snuff out the chance.
52' - CHANCE (POR) - Back down the other way, Valeri found some space before hitting a bouncing shot that forced a diving save by Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric.
56' - SAVE (POR) - On a Houston corner, defender Philippe Senderos looped a header up and towards goal but Attinella jumped high to palm the ball over the bar.
61' - CHANCE (POR) - Valeri darted down the left channel and cut a ball back to forward Jeremy Ebobisse near the top of the six-yard box. Ebobisse turned and fired but right at Deric.
69' - CHANCE (POR) - On a Portland corner kick that Houston could not immediately clear, Vtyas spun a ball across the face of goal that Liam Ridgewell found while lurking near the back post. Ridgewell hit his shot but it was blocked away by a Dynamo defender.
The Timbers and Houston will return to Providence Park on Nov. 5 for the second leg of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinal with a kickoff time still to be announced.
Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs | Western Conference Semifinals – First Leg
Portland Timbers (1) vs. Houston Dynamo (4)
Oct. 30, 2017 – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
Houston Dynamo 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
None
Misconduct Summary
POR: Powell (Caution), 24
POR: Mabiala (Caution), 45
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Attinella, D Powell, D Mabiala (Miller, 45+1), D Ridgewell ©, D Vytas, M Olum, M Chara (Okugo, 46), M Asprilla, M Valeri, M Nagbe (Ebobisse, 59), F Mattocks
Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Valentin, M Arboleda, M Barmby
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Valeri, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Valeri, Vytas, 1); FOULS: 15 (Asprilla, 4); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
HOU: GK Deric, D Anibaba, D Machado, D Senderos, D Beasley ©, M Martinez (Sanchez, 60), M Alexander, M Cabezas, F Elis, F Quioto (Alex, 71), F Manotas (Torres, 77)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Willis, D Garcia, M Clark, F Wenger
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Manotas, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Manotas, Senderos); FOULS: 11; (Elis, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Jeff Muschik
4th Official: Sorin Stoica
VAR: Chris Penso
Attendance: 15,169
Weather: Clear, 69 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
