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Portland Timbers

Timbers Earn 2-2 Road Draw against Sporting Kansas City

September 30, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Portland Timbers earned a point on the road with a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park on Sunday night. Sebastián Blanco tallied his fifth goal of the season, while Dairon Asprilla scored his first goal of the campaign, converting from the penalty spot late in the second half to help the Timbers secure a point. With the draw, the Timbers remain in playoff position in sixth place in the Western Conference standings entering their final match of the regular season at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Providence Park.

Playoff position

The Timbers (13-13-7, 46pts) enter the final weekend of the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference, vying for a one of two remaining playoff spots. Portland is one point ahead of FC Dallas (45pts) in seventh place and two points clear of the Earthquakes (44pts) in eighth place, while the Colorado Rapids sit in ninth place with 42 points.

Road form

In their last nine road matches, the Timbers have posted a record of 5-3-1. Portland finished its 2019 regular-season campaign with six road wins. The team's six wins on the road this season are the most in a single season by the club since 2015.

Goal scorers

Blanco tallied his fifth goal of the season in the match, becoming the fourth Timbers player this season to score five or more goals. Asprilla scored his first goal of the season in the match. He is the 11th different player to score a goal for the Timbers in an MLS match in 2019.

Key plays

Portland nearly scored in the 24th minute when Renzo Zambrano's long ball in behind the Sporting KC backline fell to Brian Fernandez, who sent a shot from outside the box just past the left post.

The Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute when Marvin Loría dribbled to the end line and delivered a cross through the box that was partially cleared by a Sporting KC defender. The rebound fell to Blanco, whose powerful strike hit the underside of the bar and crossed the goal line.

Sporting KC leveled the match at 1-1 in the 30th minute after Johnny Russell's cross from the right flank was headed in by Krisztián Németh.

In the 32nd minute, Blanco cut inside on his right foot from the left wing and fired a low shot that forced a save by Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia. One minute later, Fernandez dribbled toward the penalty area and sent a shot toward the near post, but Melia made another save.

In the 36th minute, the Timbers were reduced to 10 men after Fernandez was issued a red card. Two minutes later, Sporting KC went down a man after the video assistant referee [VAR] was used to issue Roger Espinoza a red card in the 38th minute.

Sporting KC took a 2-1 lead in the 46th minute. Gianluca Busio fired a shot from inside the box that bounced off the left post. The ball landed for Dániel Sallói, who delivered a shot on target that took a deflection and went into the back of the net.

In the 48th minute, Blanco dribbled down the left side of the field and slotted a pass to Loría, who hit a shot from a tight angle near the left post, but again Melia made a stop.

Steve Clark made a crucial save in the 54th minute. Sallói received a pass near the edge of the box, dribbled into the box and attempted to send a shot past Clark with the outside of his foot, but Clark slid out and blocked Sallói's attempt with his foot.

In the 83rd minute, Blanco played a slip pass to Jeremy Ebobisse making a run near the penalty spot. Ilie Sánchez pulled Ebobisse down inside the box and Portland was awarded a penalty kick, while Sánchez was sent off and Sporting KC was reduced to nine players. Asprilla stepped to the penalty spot and converted to level the match at 2-2 in the 85th minute.

Notes:

Sebastián Blanco scored his fifth goal of 2019 in MLS play, becoming the fourth Timbers player this season to score five or more goals.

Blanco notched the 23rd league goal of his Timbers career, which ranks as the 11th-most in the club's history across all eras.

Dairon Asprilla scored his first goal of the season for Portland. Asprilla is the 11th player to score a goal for the Timbers this season in an MLS match.

Asprilla's goal was the latest game-tying goal for the Timbers in a win or draw since Aug. 21, 2015, when Lucas Melano scored in the 86th minute in a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo.

Portland finished the 2019 regular season with six road wins. The six wins are the most in a single season by the club since 2015.

The Timbers are unbeaten in their last four matches, including the playoffs, against Sporting Kansas City with a record of 2-0-2.

Next game

Up next, the Timbers play host to the San Jose Earthquakes in its regular-season finale on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Providence Park. Beginning at 1 p.m. (Pacific), the match features a regional television broadcast on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (13-13-7, 46pts) vs. Sporting Kansas City (10-15-8, 38pts)

Sept. 29, 2019 - Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kan.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 1 2

Sporting Kansas City 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: Blanco, 29

SKC: Németh (Russell, Espinoza), 30

SKC: Sallói, 46

POR: Asprilla (penalty kick), 85

Misconduct Summary:

SKC: Gutiérrez (caution), 35

POR: Fernandez (caution), 35

POR: Fernandez (ejection), 36

SKC: Espinoza (ejection), 38

POR: Zambrano (caution), 60

POR: Blanco (caution), 65

POR: Valentin (caution), 72

SKC: Baráth (caution), 75

SKC: Melia (caution), 81

SKC: Sánchez (ejection), 84

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Valentin, D Tuiloma, D Dielna, D Villafaña, M Zambrano (Moreira, 89), M Chara ©, M Polo (Asprilla, 58), M Blanco, Loría (Ebobisse, 55), F Fernandez

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Farfan, M Paredes, M Valeri

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Blanco, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Blanco, 3); FOULS: 6 (Blanco, Zambrano, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

NE: GK Melia, D Zusi, D Baráth, D Sánchez. D Martins, M Gutiérrez, M Espinoza ©, M Russell (Gerso, 60), M Busio (Besler, 85), M Sallói, F Németh (Hurtado, 73)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Dick, D Sinovic, D Lindsey, D Medranda

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Sallói, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Sallói, 3); FOULS: 7 (Three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4

Referee: Allen Chapman

Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho

4th Official: Lorant Varga

VAR: Armando Villarreal

Attendance: 17, 281

Weather: Cloudy, 81 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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