SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Playing their first match of the 2019 preseason campaign, presented by presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky, the Portland Timbers defeated Deportivo Saprissa 4-0 at Complejo Deportivo Fedefutbol Plycem in San José, Costa Rica, on Monday morning. In the team’s first of two preseason matches during an 11-day training camp in Costa Rica, 21 players saw the field for the Timbers in their preseason opener. Three different players scored for the Timbers, as the team recorded its first win of the 2019 preseason campaign.
Game format
The Timbers’ match against Saprissa featured two, 45-minute periods, as the team opened its preseason slate for the 2019 MLS season. For the Timbers side, 21 players saw the field in the preseason opener, helping to produce four goals and a clean sheet.
Goal-scorers
Dairon Asprilla, Tomás Conechny and Lucas Melano each recorded their first goals of the 2019 preseason in the match. Portland recorded three goals in the first half, including a brace from Melano.
Preseason debuts
Monday’s match featured the Timbers’ preseason debuts of seven players, including Carlos Anguiano, Steve Clark, Conechny, Claude Dielna, Foster Langsdorf and 2019 MLS SuperDraft picks Lennart Hein and Ryan Sierakowski.
Key plays
Portland opened the scoring in the eighth minute of play when Andrés Flores received the ball on the left wing, crossing a ball to the six-yard box to find Asprilla, who delivered a left-footed shot, beating Saprissa goalkeeper Alejandro Gómez inside the right post.
The Timbers doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. Asprilla intercepted a switch of play near midfield, carried it to the edge of the penalty area and laid it off to Melano, who scored with his left foot inside the right post. A minute into added time, Melano extended his tally to two goals. Melano made a solo run from midfield, finishing with a right-footed shot from near the penalty spot.
Conechny scored Portland’s fourth goal in the 61st minute. The midfielder received a precise cross from the right side from Renzo Zambrano and calmly converted from close range.
Next game
Next up, the Timbers will face C.S. Herediano at Complejo Deportivo Fedefutbol Plycem on Thursday, Feb. 7; kickoff is set for 8 a.m. (Pacific).
Portland Timbers vs. Deportivo Saprissa (MLS Preseason)
Feb. 4, 2019 – Complejo Deportivo Fedefutbol Plycem (San José, Costa Rica)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 3 1 4
Deportivo Saprissa 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Asprilla (Flores), 8
POR: Melano (Asprilla), 32
POR: Melano, 45 +1
POR: Conechny (Zambrano), 61
Misconduct Summary:
n/a
Portland Lineups:
First 45:
POR: Asprilla, Cascante, Clark, Dielna, Farfan, Flores, Melano, Paredes, Polo, Sierakowski^, Valentin
Second 45:
POR: Anguiano+, Conechny, Hein^, Jadama, Langsdorf, McIntosh, Miller, Sierakowski^, Tuiloma, Williamson, Zambrano
Indicates Timbers guest player/trialist; ^ indicates SuperDraft pick, + indicates T2
Saprissa Lineups:
First 45:
SAP: Arrieta, Evans, Fernández, Fonseca, Gómez, Guzmán, Lawrence, Medina (Castro, 8), Ruiz, Salinas, Sinclair
Second 45:
SAP: Castro (Lawrence, 80), Cordero, Salinas, Evans, Golobio, Pagés, Rojas, Rubilio, Suarez, Ugalde, Zúñiga
