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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Down Seattle Sounders FC in 4-1 Victory at Providence Park

April 16, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers downed Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC in a 4-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd at Providence Park on Saturday night. After conceding to Seattle first, Dairon Asprilla, Nathan Fogaça, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Juan David Mosquera each scored a goal in the final 20 minutes of the match to complete the comeback result, helping the Timbers earn a fourth straight win against the Sounders for the first time in club history.

Timbers Gutted the Fish

The Timbers improved their record over Cascadia rival Seattle to 17-15-7 overall (including playoffs) and 11-7-3 when playing at Providence Park. Portland registered its fourth straight win against the Sounders tonight, dating back to Aug. 29, 2021. In that four-game span, the Timbers have outscored Seattle 11-2. The win marked the first time either side in the Portland vs. Seattle rivalry has won four straight matches against the other in the MLS era. Head coach Giovanni Savarese improved his regular season record over Seattle to 9-5-1, toting the most wins against the Sounders of any MLS head coach since 2018. The 2022 Cascadia Cup golden boot winner, Asprilla has scored a goal in each of Portland's last three matches against the Sounders, recording three goals and an assist in that span.

Goal Scorers and Playmakers

Four players scored goals in tonight's match (Asprilla, Fogaça, Niezgoda, Mosquera) and four players tallied assists (Santiago Moreno, Claudio Bravo, Mosquera, Cristhian Paredes). Scoring all the goals in a span of 18 minutes and seven seconds, it marked the shortest timespan Portland has scored four goals in single match. Mosquera now leads the team in goals (2), assists (2) and points (6) this season. The Timbers have the second-most goal scorers (9) in the league this season, trailing only the Columbus Crew (10). Portland's four goals tonight is the most the team has scored in a match since July 30, 2022. The Timbers have scored six goals in the last 15 minutes of a match in the 2023 campaign, more than any other team in MLS.Portland has scored five goals via substitutes this season (Paredes, Teka Ikoba, Franck Boli, Fogaça, Niezgoda), more than any other team in the league.Asprilla has contributed to six goals in his last five appearances at Providence Park, dating back to the 2022 season (5 goals, 1 assist), and has tallied six goals and three assists in his last 11 appearances for Portland overall.

Defend the Cup

Tonight's match marked Portland's second of the 2023 Cascadia Cup, in which they aim to defend its 2022 title. The Timbers claimed their third Cascadia Cup title in club history (2022, 2017, 2012) last year, finishing the 2022 competition with a combined record of 3-0-1 over Seattle (2-0-0) and Vancouver (1-0-1). Portland dropped its first Cascadia match of the 2023 campaign against the Vancouver Whitecaps on April 8, but bounced back with tonight's win to remain in contention. The Timbers will play Sounders FC two more times throughout the season, with both of those matches on the road at Lumen Field (June 3, Sept. 2), and have one remaining match against Whitecaps FC at home on Aug. 26.

Goal-Scoring Plays

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Obed Vargas, Nicolás Lodeiro), 58th minute: Nicolás Lodeiro played the ball towards the right-side endline for Obed Vargas, who served a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box. Raúl Ruidíaz ran onto the ball, striking a first-time shot low and inside of the far post.

POR - Dairon Asprilla (Santiago Moreno, Claudio Bravo), 71st minute: Sitting at the top of the 18-yard box, Moreno curled the ball into the penalty kick spot area, where Asprilla positioned himself to score through a bicycle kick, connecting with his right foot and into the back of the net.

POR - Nathan Fogaça (Santiago Moreno, Juan David Mosquera), 76th minute: Moreno sent a long ball from the midfield into the final third for Fogaça, who dribbled through several Sounders defenders and into the box before firing a left-footed low shot into the right corner of the goal.

POR - Jaroslaw Niezgoda, 81st minute: Fogaça curled a shot on frame from the corner of the 18-yard box, forcing a deflection from Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Santiago Moreno followed up the loose ball and took a shot from close range, forcing another save off of Frei. Niezgoda darted for the ball and slotted it into the back of the net.

POR - Juan David Mosquera (Cristhian Paredes), 89th minute: Paredes recovered the ball in Portland's defensive third and dribbled up the middle of the field. He dished it forward for Mosquera, who took a touch towards the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot into the back of the net.

Notes

The Timbers lead the MLS series against Seattle with a mark of 17-15-7 overall (including playoffs) and 11-7-3 when playing at Providence Park.

Portland has won four straight matches against the Sounders, dating back to Aug. 29, 2021, outscoring them 11-2 in that stretch.

Tonight's win marks the first time either side in the Portland vs. Seattle rivalry has won four straight matches against the other in the MLS era.

Portland registered a season high four goals in the match from four different goal scorers with four different assisters.

Scoring all the goals in a span of 18 minutes and seven seconds, it marked the shortest timespan Portland has scored four goals in a single match.

The Timbers have scored six goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half this season, more than any other team in MLS.

Portland has scored five goals via substitutes this season, more than any other team in the league.

Asprilla scored his first goal of the 2023 campaign and the 28th of his MLS career.

Asprilla has contributed to six goals in his last five appearances at Providence Park, dating back to the 2022 season (5 goals, 1 assist).

Asprilla has scored a goal in each of Portland's last three matches against the Sounders, recording three goals and an assist in that span.

Fogaça scored his first goal of the season and the third of his MLS career.

Niezgoda scored his first goal of the 2023 campaign and the 20th of his MLS career.

Mosquera notched a goal and an assist in the match, for a team-best two goals and two assists in the 2023 campaign.

Asprilla, Fogaça and Niezgoda became the seventh, eighth and ninth different players to tally a goal for Portland this season. Nine goal scorers is the second most in the league, only trailing the Columbus Crew (10).

Moreno tallied his first assists of the season with two in the match, marking the 13th and 14th of his MLS career.

Bravo tallied his first assist of the season and the fifth of his MLS career.

Paredes recorded his first assist of the 2023 campaign and the 12th of his MLS career.

D. Chara has started more matches (31) against Seattle than any other player in league history.

D. Chara has logged more minutes (2,789) against Seattle than any other player in league history.

Franck Boli earned his first MLS start and made his Providence Park debut.

David Ayala made his first start of the season.

Aljaz Ivacic made his 2023 Providence Park debut after appearing in three road games.

Evander made his first start since March 4, 2023.

Paredes returned from injury as a second-half substitute, making his first appearance since March 11, 2023.

Portland had five players listed as unavailable ahead of tonight's game (Sebastián Blanco, Felipe Mora, Yimmi Chara, David Bingham, Eryk Williamson).

Next Game

The Timbers will travel to face FC Cincinnati on April 22 at TQL Stadium for the first time in club history. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 16, 2023


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