MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Draw Chicago Fire 2-2 at Toyota Park

Published on March 31, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Portland Timbers battled the Chicago Fire to a 2-2 draw before 13,678 fans at Toyota Park on Saturday evening behind goals from midfielders Sebastián Blanco and Diego Valeri. Blanco, who also notched his first assist of the season, recorded his team-high third goal of the year, while midfielder Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the new campaign in the draw.

Facing the Fire

With a 2-2 draw at Toyota Park, the Timbers (0-2-2, 2pts) extended their unbeaten run against the Fire (0-2-1, 1pt) to nine straight games (4-0-5) in league play since joining MLS in 2011. Saturday's match marked Portland's fourth league match at Toyota Park during that span, with the Timbers holding a 1-0-3 record in Bridgeview, Ill.

Scoring away from home

Valeri, the reigning 2017 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's match. With the goal, Valeri has scored nine goals away from home since the start of the 2017 season, which ranks as the second-most in the league. During that span, only New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored more away goals (10). Additionally, with his third goal in four games to start the season, Blanco is also tied for the third-most away goals (8) during that stretch. So far this season, Blanco has scored three of the team's first four goals.

Timbers milestones

Midfielder Andrés Flores made his first MLS start in Saturday's game against the Fire. Additionally, defender Julio Cascante made his Timbers and MLS debut, becoming the 100th different player to feature in a match for Portland in the club's eight MLS seasons.

Key plays

Attacking quickly on the counter attack, the Timbers took the lead in the sixth minute of play when Blanco drove at the Fire defense, before finding Valeri in space on the edge of the 18-yard box. Taking a quick touch, Valeri calmly slotted ball into the bottom corner to give the Timbers an early 1-0 lead.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Timbers came close to doubling their lead when forward Fanendo Adi's shot was deflected to an unmarked Blanco on the edge of the six-yard box. Reacting quickly, Blanco blasted a powerful close-range strike that forced a strong save from goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, before rattling off the crossbar in the 35th minute.

Five minutes into the second half, the Fire leveled the score when forward Nemaja Nikolic scored his third goal of the season, finishing a cross from close range in the 50th minute of play.

Portland regained the lead five minutes later when a clipped cross into the box from Flores found Blanco inside the box for a whipping header into the far corner of the net, with the midfielder recording his third goal of the season. The goal also marked Flores' first career assist in MLS play.

With six minutes remaining in the game, the Fire leveled the score when midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger picked out defender Brandon Vincent with a cross into the box, creating an opportunity for the defender to nod the ball just inside the near post in the 84th minute.

Notes:

With the 2-2 result, the Timbers are unbeaten in their last two league games, recording back-to-back draws away from home.

Midfielder Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's match.

With the goal, Valeri has scored nine goals away from home dating back to the start of the 2017 season, which ranks as the second-most in MLS during that stretch.

Additionally, with the finish, Valeri has either recorded a goal or an assist in every calendar month he has played in during MLS regular-season action, dating back to March 2014.

Midfielder Sebastián Blanco recorded his third goal and first assist of the season in league play.

Blanco has scored three of the Timbers' first four goals to start the season.

Midfielder Andrés Flores recorded his first career assist in his first start in MLS in Saturday's game.

Defender Julio Cascante made his Timbers and MLS debut in Saturday's match. With the appearance, Cascante is the 100th different player to feature in an MLS match for the Timbers.

Next game

Next up, the Timbers will travel to face Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday, April 8. Beginning at 1 p.m. (Pacific), the April 8 match will be broadcast live on ESPN with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (0-2-2, 2pts) vs. Chicago Fire (0-2-1, 1pt)

March 31, 2018 - Toyota Park (Bridgeview, Ill.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 1 2

Chicago Fire 0 2 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: Valeri (Blanco), 6

CHI: Nikolic (Vincent, Schweinsteiger), 50

POR: Blanco (Flores), 55

CHI: Vincent (Schweinsteiger), 84

Misconduct Summary:

CHI: Katai (Caution), 12

POR: Valeri (Caution), 52

Lineups:

POR: GK Gleeson, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Tuiloma, D Farfan (Vytas, 82), M Flores, M Chara, M Flores (Cascante, 87), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Adi (Armenteros, 90)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, M Barmby, M Asprilla, M Polo

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Blanco, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 9 (Paredes, Blanco ,2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1

CHI: GK Sanchez, D Ellis (Gordon, 75), D Kappelhof, D Dean, D Vincent, M McCarty, M Tchani (Conner, 59), M Collier, M Schweinsteiger, M Katai (Campos, 46), F Nikolic

Substitutes Not Used: GK McLain, D Lillard, M Bronico, F Bakero

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Nikolic, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 9 (Katai, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 1

Referee: Drew Fischer

Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jeremy Kieso

4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez

VAR: Alan Kelly

Attendance: 13,678

Weather: Partly cloudy, 47 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 31, 2018


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