MLS Portland Timbers

Perkins' seven saves, Jewsbury's penalty kick help end win drought

Published on July 16, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Troy Perkins made a season-high seven saves in support of Jack Jewsbury's first-half penalty-kick goal as the Portland Timbers recorded their first road victory as an MLS side with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park Saturday night.

Perkins secured his fourth shutout of the season and first since May 21 with two big saves in second-half stoppage time to help the Timbers (6-9-3, 21pts) end a season-long, seven-game winless streak.

Jewsbury set a new career high by scoring his team-leading fifth goal in the 25th minute. After forward Jorge Perlaza drew a foul inside the goal box, Jewsbury stepped up and buried his shot in the lower-left corner of the goal, past diving goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

Diego Chara and Kenny Cooper each recorded three shots for Portland, which earned the victory despite being out-shot 19-12 by the hosts.

Johnson made six saves and Marco Pappa recorded six shots, including a game-high four on goal, as the Fire (2-6-12, 18pts) lost their second straight regular-season match on the heels of an eight-game unbeaten stretch.

Perlaza, attempting to control a deflected shot by Chara, was knocked to the ground by Fire defender Gonzalo Segares, forcing referee Elias Bazakos to award Portland the penalty kick. Jewsbury's goal gave Portland its first road lead of the season and ended a 229-minute road goalless drought for the Timbers.

The Fire had two shots strike the frame of the goal, with defender Cory Gibbs' header from a corner kick ricocheting off the far post in the 44th minute and substitute forward Orr Barouch's right-footed blast in the 68th minute hitting the crossbar.

Perkins was forced into a pair of difficult saves in the waning minutes of the match. First, he dove to his right to nullify Pappa's left-footed strike that was bound for the upper-left corner in the 90th minute. Then, less than a minute later, Perkins again stifled the Guatemalan with a kick save on Pappa's left-footed bullet from a failed clearance.

The Timbers' bid for their first road win was aided by the sending off of Fire defender Yamith Cuesta, who was booked for hard tackles in the 57th and 63rd minutes, putting Chicago down a man for the final 27 minutes of the contest.

The Timbers return to JELD-WEN Field for a midweek exhibition as they play host to the English Premier League's West Bromwich Albion in an international friendly Wednesday at 8 p.m. (PT). A live radio broadcast will air on Sportsradio 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM. Portland's next MLS match is Saturday, July 23, when the Timbers go to Columbus to play the Crew at 5 p.m. (PT), live on FOX 12.

The Fire face English Premier League titleholders Manchester United at Soldier Field next Saturday, July 23. Chicago is off from MLS play until Wednesday, Aug. 3, when the Philadelphia Union visit Toyota Park.

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