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Portland Timbers

Timbers Utilize Deep Roster in Commanding CONCACAF Champions League Win

September 17, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Forward Maximiliano Urruti registered a brace, midfielder Will Johnson logged a goal and two assists and defender Rauwshan McKenzie netted his first career goal to highlight a commanding performance for the Portland Timbers in a 4-2 win over Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras in a CONCACAF Champions League group match before 16,238 fans at Providence Park on Tuesday night.

With the win, Portland (2-0-0, 6pts) gains the advantage over Olimpia (2-1-0, 6pts) in Group 5 with a game in hand.

Utilizing a starting lineup that featured 11 players who have combined to make 165 MLS regular-season appearances between them in 2014, the Timbers registered two goals in each half in the club's first-ever home CCL match. Through two CCL group games, Portland has received eight goals from six different players, showcasing the squad's depth.

Urruti, who has scored in consecutive CCL games and leads the Timbers with 12 goals in all competitions this season, provided Portland with an early lead in the 11th minute - converting inside the near left post after Johnson blocked an Olimpia pass near the penalty box.

The visitors grabbed the equalizer off a corner kick nine minutes later as defender Kevin Álvarez nodded in a header in the 20th minute. Johnson put the Timbers back into the lead in the 26th minute with a knuckling shot from distance. Olimpia, however, responded once again to level the match moments before halftime, capitalizing on a mishandled free kick for a goal by forward Romell Quioto in the 44th minute.

Urruti netted his second goal of the match following a perfectly placed pass from Johnson into the box in the 57th minute. Urruti controlled the pass, touched the ball around Olimpia goalkeeper Noel Valladares and powered what would stand as the game-winning goal into the back of the net.

McKenzie capped the scoring for Portland in the 72nd minute, sending a looping header inside the upper left corner of the goal following a corner kick from forward GastÃ"n Fernández.

Portland continues group play in CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday, Sept. 23, with a match against Alpha United FC from Guyana at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Notes:

- Tuesday's match marked Portland's first-ever home CONCACAF Champions League game at Providence Park.

- Forward Maximiliano Urruti tallied his second and third CONCACAF Champions League goals for the Timbers on Tuesday with a brace. Urruti has registered a goal in consecutive CCL games and leads the team with 12 goals in all competitions.

- Urruti's opening goal was the first CCL goal Olimpia conceded in 392 consecutive minutes, dating back to Aug. 27, 2013, against Sporting Kansas City.

- Portland's starting lineup on Tuesday combined for 165 regular-season appearances (124 starts) for an average of 15 games played for each player. The lineup also has combined to score 23 of Portland's 49 regular-season goals in MLS play.

- Defender Rauwshan McKenzie tallied his first career goal, nodding a header inside the far left post in the 72nd minute.

- Defenders Michael Harrington and Norberto Paparatto, midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe and forward GastÃ"n Fernández each made their CONCACAF Champions League debuts on Tuesday night.

- Tuesday's match marked the first-ever time a team from Honduras has played in an official competitive match at Providence Park.

- Midfielder Will Johnson notched his fourth career goal in CONCACAF Champions League play. Johnson made his 17th career CCL appearance on Tuesday and his first as a member of the Timbers.

- Portland has registered four goals in consecutive CCL matches, conceding only three for a plus-5 goal differential.

- With the win, Portland moved into first place in Group 5 with a game in hand on Olimpia.

- Portland has scored two or more goals in six straight games in all competitions.

- Dating back to Aug. 9, the Timbers are 4-1-3 in their last eight games in all competitions.

- Only two players have scored more goals (4) in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League tournament than forward Maximiliano Urruti (3).

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