MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Draw Chicago Fire 2-2 at Providence Park

Published on July 6, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers battled the Chicago Fire to a 2-2 draw before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Forward Fanendo Adi scored his 10th goal of the season in the draw against Chicago, while midfielder Sebastián Blanco recorded his first career goal at Providence Park, and his third overall in 2017.

With the result, the Timbers (7-7-6, 27pts) remain unbeaten in eight games (4-0-4) played against the Chicago Fire in league play since joining MLS in 2011, including a 3-0-2 mark at Providence Park. Additionally, with Adi recording his 10th regular-season goal in 2017, the Timbers are one of two teams in MLS with two players with 10 or more goals, with midfielder Diego Valeri ranking tied with Adi for the most goals (10) on the team.

With a season-high 24 overall shots and nine shots on target, also the most for the team in a single match this season, the Timbers took the lead in the 24th minute when Adi converted from the penalty spot after referee Robert Sibiga whistled for a handball inside the 18-yard box, with the striker placing the ball down the middle to record his 10th goal of the season. With the finish, Adi has scored 51 goals in league play since joining the Timbers midway through the 2014 season. One of two players in MLS to score at least 10 goals in each of the last three seasons, Adi has scored the third-most goals in MLS since making his league debut.

Following Portland's opening goal, Chicago (11-3-5, 38pts) managed to score two unanswered goals when midfielder Arturo Alvarez's penetrating cross went untouched in the box, sneaking into the far corner in the 34th minute, while defender Brandon Vincent was able to find space at the back post before hitting an effort off the crossbar and into the back of the net in the 60th minute to give the visitors a 2-1 edge.

Ten minutes after Chicago's second goal, the Timbers responded with an equalizer in the 70th minute when Valeri slipped a well-weighted pass through the 18-yard box to Blanco, who took a touch before firing a driven shot into the far corner from the right side of the box.

Pushing for a positive result, the Timbers created several scoring opportunities throughout the match. In the 15th minute, a clipped ball into the box found Adi, who chested the ball down for midfielder Ben Zemanski, whose first-time volley was saved by Chicago goalkeeper Matt Lampson.

In the 18th minute, Valeri switched the ball across the 18-yard box to Blanco, who played a cross into a dangerous area in the six-yard box to Adi for a header that went just wide of the far post. One minute after Chicago's first goal, Portland responded strongly when Valeri chested down defender Lawrence Olum's headed pass in the box, before producing an acrobatic overhead effort that narrowly missed the target.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Timbers created another shot on target when Blanco recovered the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box, opening up on his right foot to hit a shot that was saved by Lampson. One minute later, Adi broke free on a counter attack, shrugging off his defender, before hitting a shot that was deflected wide by Lampson in the 56th minute.

Continuing to press forward, Portland created another strong chance on goal in the 63rd minute when Blanco slipped a pass to Valeri inside the box, with the midfielder hitting a low effort that forced a strong deflection from the Fire defense, while Olum's long-distance effort in the 67th minute forced a strong save from Lampson.

Next up, the Timbers will resume play against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, July 19, at Providence Park, after a brief break in league play due to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match against Real Salt Lake will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS 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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