MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Advance to Western Conference Semifinals with 3-1 Win over Minnesota United FC

November 21, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - In the first round of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Portland Timbers defeated Minnesota United FC 3-1 at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon. Sebastián Blanco notched a second-half brace, while Larrys Mabiala added a goal to help send Portland to the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 25 for a Thanksgiving Day match with the No. 1 seed Colorado Rapids.

Timbers in Playoffs

In 21 all-time MLS playoff matches, the Timbers are 9-6-6 overall with a record of 4-2-4 at Providence Park. With the win, it marks the fourth time in seven postseasons the Timbers have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. Notably, head coach Giovanni Savarese has gone to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the club and is the only head coach in Portland's MLS era to record consecutive postseason appearances. Additionally, Savarese holds a 4-3-2 record in the postseason. Claudio Bravo, Santiago Moreno, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, and Josecarlos Van Rankin each made their playoff debuts. Mabiala recorded his first goal in a playoff match, while Bravo and Van Rankin both tallied their first postseason assists.

Blanco Bangers

Blanco scored for a third consecutive match, tallying his eighth and ninth goals of the 2021 campaign across all competitions. In nine postseason appearances with the Timbers, Blanco has recorded five goals and one assist. The brace was Blanco's second in the Portland's last three matches. It was also the fourth brace of his career in Portland. Blanco has made 25 appearances (13 starts) since returning from his ACL injury on June 19, recording nine goals and seven assists across all competitions.

Goal-Scoring Plays

MIN - Franco Fragapane (Romain Métanire, Robin Lod), 11th minute: From just outside the box, Robin Lod slid the ball in the box to find Romain Métanire who dribbled to the corner of the six-yard area. Métanire crossed the ball through the box toward the back post where Franco Fragapane scored with his right foot near the goal line.

POR - Larrys Mabiala (Claudio Bravo, Yimmi Chara), 43rd minute: Yimmi Chara and Claudio Bravo combined off a short corner kick. Bravo served the ball into the box to find Larry Mabiala, who outjumped multiple Minnesota United players a delivered a header into the right corner of the goal.

POR - Sebastián Blanco, 47th minute: Bravo dribbled the ball down the left flank, floating a cross into the box that was initially cleared by Minnesota. On the rebound, Sebastián Blanco found the loose ball and fired a right-footed shot into the left corner of the goal.

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Josecarlos Van Rankin), 66th minute: Josecarlos Van Rankin stole a ball from Minnesota on the right wing and dribbled forward, finding Blanco near midfield. Blanco dribbled toward the box and unleashed a swerving strike from distance that ricocheted off the right post into the goal.

Notes

The Timbers hold an 9-6-6 record in MLS playoff matches.

This is the Timbers' fifth consecutive appearance to the playoffs, and seventh in the club's MLS history (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).

In 10 playoff matches at Providence Park, the Timbers hold a record of 4-2-4.

Portland has advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals in four out of seven postseason appearances (2013, 2015, 2018, 2021).

Qualifying for playoffs in each of his four seasons with Portland, head coach Giovanni Savarese holds a playoff record of 4-3-2.

Savarese is the only head coach in Portland's MLS era to record consecutive postseason appearances.

Blanco registered his second brace in the last three matches, and fourth of his career with the Timbers.

Blanco has scored five goals, tallying one assist in his last three matches for Portland.

In nine postseason appearances, Blanco has recorded five goals and one assist.

Mabiala scored his first goal of the 2021 season, and ninth in five seasons with the Timbers.

Mabiala's goal was his first in a playoff match with Portland.

Claudio Bravo recorded his third assist of his 2021 campaign.

Josecarlos Van Rankin tallied his fourth assist in his first year with the Timbers.

Bravo, Santiago Moreno, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, and JoseCarlos Van Rankin each made their MLS playoff debuts.

Next Game

The Timbers will head to Commerce City, Colo. to take on the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 25 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Thanksgiving Day match is set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will be nationally broadcasted on FOX and FOX Deportes with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (No. 4 Seed) vs. Minnesota United FC (No. 5 Seed) - Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One

Nov. 21, 2021 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Minnesota United FC 1 0 1

Portland Timbers 1 2 3

Scoring Summary:

MIN: Fragapane (Métanire, Lod),11

POR: Mabiala (Bravo), 43

POR: Blanco, 46

POR: Blanco (Van Rankin), 66

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Blanco (caution), 19

MIN: Trapp (caution), 32

MIN: Gasper, 40

MIN: Boxall, 73

MIN: Fragapane, 85

POR: Mabiala, 86

MIN: Rosales, 86

MIN: Dibassy, 90+7

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Van Rankin, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Bravo, M D. Chara ©, M Paredes, M Y. Chara (Valeri, 90+3), M Blanco (Moreno, 88), F Asprilla, F Mora (Niezgoda, 67)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D McGraw, D Bonilla, D Tuiloma, M Loría, M Fochive

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Blanco, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 15 (Mabiala, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 5

MIN: GK St. Clair, D Métanire (Dotson, 56), D Boxall, D Dibassy, D Gasper, M Alonso, M Trapp (Rosales, 71), M Lod, M Reynoso, M Fragapane, F Hunou (Hansen, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Zendejas, D Kallman, M Hayes, M Gregus, F Adi, F Agudelo

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Lod, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Lod, Reynoso, 2); FOULS: 21 (Reynoso, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1

Referee: Armando Villarreal

Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Corey Rockwell

Fourth Official: Ted Unkel

VAR: Jon Freemon

Attendance: 22,533

Weather: Sunny, 44 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from November 21, 2021


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