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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Earn Stoppage-Time Win over D.C. United

May 4, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Forward Maximiliano Urruti registered the game-winning goal in the final minute of second-half stoppage time, forward GastÃ"n Fernández netted the quickest goal in Portland Timbers MLS history just 34 seconds into the match and defender Futty Danso tallied a goal as the Timbers earned their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night at Providence Park.

Tallying his second goal of the campaign, Urruti netted the game-winning goal late in second-half stoppage time after his initial effort inside the penalty box was saved by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid. After D.C. United failed to fully clear a Timbers corner kick, midfielder Diego Valeri delivered a cross into the box and Urruti's first shot to the near right post was blocked at close range by Hamid, but the forward was in a good position to send the rebound into the back of the net, securing Portland's first win of the season. The result, played in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,814, extends Portland's regular-season, home unbeaten streak to an MLS-club record 20 games (12-0-8), dating back to April 6, 2013.

Registering the quickest goal in Timbers MLS history, and one of just 22 goals scored in 34 seconds or less all-time in MLS history, Fernández staked the Timbers (1-3-5, 8pts) to an early lead with his second goal in as many games and team-leading fourth goal of the season. Following a smooth passing combination between Valeri and midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe, Valeri delivered a well-weighted cross into the penalty box from the right flank that Fernández was able to control and convert for a 1-0 lead.

With Hamid bearing down on Fernández in front of goal, the forward cleanly touched the ball over the sliding goalkeeper and proceeded to side-volley the ball into the net. Fernández has recorded a goal in back-to-back games twice through the first nine games of the season.

Along with Fernández and Urruti, Danso registered his first goal of the season, depositing a Valeri corner kick inside the right post with a strike from inside the penalty box in the 38th minute, giving Portland a 2-1 lead entering halftime. Valeri registered the fifth multi-assist performance of his Timbers career, while also becoming the Timbers MLS-career leader in assists (15).

Maintaining nearly 53 percent of the possession, including close to 55 percent in the second half, Portland overcame game-tying goals from D.C. United in each half, recording six shots in the final five minutes plus stoppage time while pushing for the winner. D.C. United's four shots on goal against Portland tied for the second-fewest shots on goal conceded by the Timbers in five matches at Providence Park this season. Portland's six shots on goal was one shy of tying the team's season-high mark (7) in 2014.

The Timbers held D.C. United to just one shot on goal in the second half, while earning a 19-16 edge in shots, including a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. An unfortunate deflection off a D.C. United corner kick in the 78th minute resulted in an own goal for the Timbers, tying the match, 2-2, with just 12 minutes remaining.

Pressing for the late winner, Fernández - who attempted a team-high six shots - sent a look from near the penalty spot high in the 86th minute, while he saw a close-range effort from inside the box saved in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Valeri delivered a shot wide of the left post in the 90th minute before Urruti capitalized on Portland's late-game pressure.

In the midst of a three-game home stand, Portland plays host to the LA Galaxy on Sunday, May 11, in their next match; kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. (Pacific). The special Mother's Day match will be broadcast live on national television on NBC Sports Network with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

Notes:

- Forward GastÃ"n Fernández scored the quickest goal in Timbers MLS history, tallying the game-opening goal just 34 seconds into Saturday's match against D.C. United. The goal is one of 22 in MLS history scored in 34 seconds or less.

- Forward Maximiliano Urruti's game-winning goal came at the 93:32 mark, 15-seconds shy of matching the latest game-winning goal in Timbers MLS history (93:47) set against the LA Galaxy on July 13, 2013.

- Saturday's crowd of 20,814 marked the 56th consecutive sellout at Providence Park. The Timbers have sold out every regular-season match at Providence Park since 2011.

- With the win, Portland extended its MLS-club record home unbeaten streak to 20 consecutive matches, dating back to April 6, 2013. The Timbers are 12-0-8 in their last 20 regular-season matches at Providence Park.

- Fernández becomes the first MLS Timbers player to register a goal in consecutive games two different times during the regular season. Fernández tallied a goal in Portland's first two matches of the season (March 8-16), while also scoring in back-to-back games April 27-May 3.

- Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe made his 57th consecutive regular-season start for the Timbers dating back to the 2012 season. Nagbe has appeared in 76 of the team's 77 games since the start of the 2012 season.

- Nagbe, defender Jack Jewsbury and midfielder Diego Chara each made their 95th career starts for the Timbers on Saturday.

- Midfielder Diego Valeri recorded the fifth multi-assist performance of his MLS career and moved into first-place as the Timbers MLS-career record holder with 15 assists.

- Valeri, the 2013 MLS Newcomer of the Year winner, notched his 40th career MLS appearance on Saturday.

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