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 Portland Timbers

Timbers Defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-2 at Providence Park Sunday

May 22, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers recorded their fourth home win of the season before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon, as four different players found the back of the net, giving the Timbers a 4-2 win over Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

During the win, Timbers midfielders Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe and Dairon Asprilla and forward Jack McInerney each scored for the Timbers, who improved to 7-3-6 against Whitecaps FC since both teams joined MLS in 2011. With Nagbe and Asprilla each recording their first goals of the season, eight different players have scored for the Timbers in 2016.

The Timbers (4-6-3, 15pts) opened the scoring early in the match when Valeri converted from the penalty spot in the third minute of play, placing his spot kick above Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted's outstretched arms. Portland was awarded the penalty kick after Vancouver struggled to clear the ball away on the edge of the box, with McInerney pouncing on the loose ball, forcing Whitecaps FC defender Pa Modou Kah to bring him down inside the area.

Midway through the first half, the Timbers doubled their lead when midfielder Ben Zemanski released midfielder Lucas Melano down the right wing, setting up Portland's ninth shot of the half. Melano took a touch before driving a low cross into the box that found its way to McInerney, who spun and fired a precise strike into the bottom left corner to give the Timbers a 2-0 advantage in the 29th minute of play.

Following Whitecaps FC's (6-6-2, 20pts) goal at the beginning of the second half, which occurred after midfielder Kekuta Manneh's shot was deflected into the back of the net in the 49th minute, the Timbers extended their lead when second-half substitute Dairon Asprilla buried a penalty kick in the 78th minute, sending Ousted to wrong way to record his first goal of the season. The Timbers were awarded the spot kick after referee Ted Unkel signaled for a hand ball inside the area.

Four minutes later, Nagbe scored Portland's final goal of the match, curling a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box over the wall and into the back of the net, recording his first goal in 2016 and 24th regular-season finish since joining the Timbers in 2011. With Nagbe's finish, the Timbers have recorded three goals from free kicks this season, marking a club record during the club's MLS era.

With six minutes remaining in the game, Vancouver pulled a goal back when midfielder Pedro Morales recorded his sixth goal of the season, finishing a penalty kick in the 84th minute of play.

Next up, the Timbers will face the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Stadium, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match against Chicago will feature a live broadcast on KPDX with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Notes:

- Sunday's game marked the 92nd consecutive regular-season sellout for the Timbers at Providence Park. Throughout the weekend, 45,000 fans attended four different matches at Providence Park, including Portland Thorns FC, T2 and the Portland Timbers U-23s.

- With the win, Portland's record against Vancouver improved to 7-3-6 since both teams joined MLS in 2011.

- Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe attempted a career-high eight shots in Sunday's game, joining midfielder Diego Valeri as the only Timbers players to attempt eight shots during a game in the team's MLS era.

- Nagbe recorded his 24th career-goal with the Timbers on Sunday, moving into ninth place for goals scored across all eras in Portland history (since 1975). Additionally, Nagbe is the only Timbers player to score in each of the club's six seasons in MLS.

- Portland midfielder Diego Valeri scored his 27th regular-season goal since joining the Timbers in 2013. With his next goal, Valeri will move into a tie for seventh place for goals scored across all eras in Timbers history (since 1975).

- Valeri's goal was the third penalty-kick goal of his Timbers career. Only Will Johnson and Fanendo Adi have converted more spot kicks for Portland in MLS play.

- Making his third start of the season, Timbers forward Jack McInerney scored his fourth goal of the season. In 2016, 31 MLS players have scored four or more goals, with LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane ranking as the only player to play fewer minutes than McInerney, who has played 426 minutes.

- Timbers midfielder Dairon Asprilla scored his first goal of the season and his second regular-season goal since joining the Timbers. With the finish, Asprilla became the second Timbers player during their MLS era to score a penalty kick after entering the match as a substitute, joining forward Fanendo Adi, who accomplished the feat on July 26, 2015, against FC Dallas.

- Timbers midfielder Ben Zemanski was credited with an assist on McInerney's goal, marking his first assist since June 23, 2013.

- Neco Brett made his MLS debut, entering the match as a substitute in the second half. With the appearance, Brett became the first player from Robert Morris College to play for the Timbers in the club's 41-year history.

- Sunday's match featured three successful penalty kicks by three different players (Valeri, Asprilla, and Whitecaps FC midfielder Pedro Morales), marking just the second time in MLS history that three different players have scored a penalty kick in the same match. The feat was previously accomplished on June 29, 2005, when Chicago Fire players Jesse Marsch and Ivan Guerrero scored from the penalty spot, along with D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno.

- The Timbers had four different players score goals in the match, marking the fourth time Portland has had four different players score in a single MLS match (Oct. 19, 2015, Oct. 27, 2013 and Sept. 9, 2013).

- Sunday's win also marked the first time Portland has recorded four or more goals against Whitecaps FC since the team's NASL era, with the Timbers previously defeating Vancouver 5-0 on May 2, 1982.

- For the first time during its MLS era, Portland scored direct from a free kick and a penalty kick in the same match. The Timbers also attempted two penalty kicks in the same match for the first time in their MLS era on Sunday.

- Portland has scored three goals from direct free kicks this season, which is the most by the club in a single MLS season, surpassing the 2012 (2) and 2013 (2) campaigns. In addition, Portland has scored the most goals from direct free kicks in MLS this season.

Next Game

The Timbers will face the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 28, at Toyota Stadium; kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match against Chicago will feature a live broadcast on KPDX with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).


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