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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Advance to Quarterfinal Round of MLS Is Back Tournament in Penalty-Kick Shootout against FC Cincinnati

July 29, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati
Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati
(Portland Timbers, Credit: Major League Soccer)

ORLANDO, Fla. - Tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes of play, the Portland Timbers advanced to the quarterfinal round of MLS is Back Tournament with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks against FC Cincinnati at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Tuesday night. In the quarterfinal round, The Timbers will square off against New York City FC on Saturday, Aug. 1; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored just three minutes after entering the match in the 67th minute, tallying a goal for a second consecutive match to put Portland ahead 1-0 before FC Cincinnati rallied with a late goal to send the match to penalty kicks. In the penalty-kick shootout, Steve Clark saved J�rgen Locadia's attempt in the third round, while Kendall Waston missed his attempt in the fourth round before Niezgoda converted to give Portland the victory in the shootout.

Penalty-Kick Shootouts

The penalty-kick shootout was the fifth in a competitive match in all eras of the club, joining 2007 USL Playoffs vs. Atlanta Silverbacks, 2010 U.S. Open Cup third round vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 2015 MLS Knockout Round vs. Sporting Kansas City and the 2018 MLS Cup Western Conference Semifinals vs. Seattle. Portland has won all three of its shootouts in the MLS era.

Streaks

For a second consecutive match, Niezgoda scored for the Timbers. Niezgoda scored three minutes after entering the match, after scoring seven minutes into Portland's last match. Sebastián Blanco delivered an assist in his fourth consecutive match. His four assists rank as the second-most in the MLS is Back Tournament. Notably, it marked the first time Blanco has recorded an assist in four straight matches during his Timbers career.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Sebastián Blanco), 67th minute: Blanco made a run down the left side of the field, dribbled along the end line and slotted a pass to the center of the box for Niezgoda, who converted from close range.

CIN - Jurgen Locadia (penalty kick), 81st minute: FC Cincinnati earned a penalty kick when Allan Cruz was fouled inside the box. Jurgen Locadia converted from the penalty spot.

Notes

For the second consecutive match, Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored for the Timbers.

Niezgoda scored three minute after entering the match against FC Cincinnati and seven minutes into Portland's match against LAFC on July 28.

Sebastián Blanco delivered an assist in his fourth consecutive match. It is the first time Blanco has recorded an assist in four straight matches during his career with the Timbers.

Blanco has recorded 36 assists in all competitions with Portland. His four assists ranks as the second-most in the tournament.

Diego Valeri finished the match with a game-high six chances created.

Jorge Villafaña finished the match with a team-high three interceptions.

Felipe Mora made his tournament debut in the match.

The shootout was the fifth penalty-kick shootout in a competitive match in the 45-year history of the Timbers, joining the 2007 USL Playoffs vs. Atlanta Silverbacks, 2010 U.S. Open Cup third round vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 2015 MLS knockout round vs. Sporting Kansas City and 2018 MLS Cup Western Conference Semifinals vs. Seattle.

Portland has won all three of its shootouts in the MLS era.

The Timbers finished the match with a passing accuracy of 90.2 percent, which is the highest passing accuracy by the club in an MLS match, including regular season, playoffs and the MLS is Back Tournament. The club's previous high was 88.9 percent against Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 29, 2019.

Next Game

In the quarterfinal round, Portland squares off against New York City FC on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The Aug. 1 match features a national television broadcast on FS1 with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati- MLS is Back Tournament - Round of 16

July 28, 2020 - ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Orlando, Fla.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F (PKs)

Portland Timbers 0 1 1 (4)

FC Cincinnati 0 1 1 (2)

Scoring Summary:

POR: Niezgoda (Blanco), 67

CIN: Locadia (penalty kick), 81

Shootout Summary

1 CIN: de Jong - Goal

1 POR: Valeri - Goal

2 CIN: Cruz - Goal

2 POR: Mora - Goal

3 CIN: Locadia - Saved

3 POR: Blanco - Goal

4 CIN: Waston - Missed

4 POR: Niezgoda - Goal

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Blanco (caution), 18

POR: Villafaña (caution), 29

CIN: Gutman (caution), 30

POR: Gyau (caution), 46

CIN: Alashe (caution), 90

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Duvall, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Villafaña, M Williamson (Polo, 88), M D. Chara, M Y. Chara (Niezgoda, 64), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Ebobisse (Mora, 90)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, D Bonilla, D Cascante, D Farfan, D Tuiloma, M Conechny, M Loría, M Paredes, M Polo, M Zambrano

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Valeri, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Valeri, 4); FOULS: 18 (Villafaña, Williamson, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 4

CIN: GK Tyton, D Waston ©, D Pettersson, D Deplagne, D Gutman, M Medunjanin, M Amaya (Alashe, 59), M Stanko (Locadia 72), F Kubo (de Jong, 58), F Regattin (Cruz, 59), F Gyau (Manneh, 89)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Edwards, D Garza, D Abdul-Salaam, D Hagglund, M McCabe, F Vazquez

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Locadia, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Locadia, 2); FOULS: 7 (Seven players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 7

Referee: Armando Villarreal

Assistant Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Claudiu Badea

4th Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Rosendo Mendoza

Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati
Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati
(Major League Soccer)		   



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