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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Fall to Houston Dynamo

September 16, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


HOUSTON - Playing the first of three matches in an eight-day span, the Portland Timbers fell 4-1 to the Houston Dynamo before 15,256 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday night. The Timbers return to the Rose City to play host to Columbus Crew SC in a midweek match on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Providence Park.

Key plays

Portland took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of the match. Sebastián Blanco played the ball out wide on the right side to Alvas Powell. He delivered a cross into the box and Houston's Alejandro Fuenmayor attempted to clear the ball, but he re-directed the cross into the back of the net.

Julio Cascante made a key defensive play in the 18th minute as he tracked back to clear the ball off the Timbers goal line. The Dynamo's Ricardo Clark sent a ball into the box from the right wing toward the back post that deflected off a Portland player and nearly crossed the line, but Cascante cleared the bouncing ball.

Houston leveled the match in the 32nd minute on a set piece. Earning a free kick just outside the box, Tomás Martínez looped a ball into the box for Alberth Elis, who deposited a header into the back of the net from near the penalty spot.

The Dynamo took a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute of the match. On the counter-attack, Elis received a pass from Martínez in space on the right side of the field. Elis dribbled to the end line and served a cross into the box for Mauro Manotas, making a run to the back post and he finished in stride from close range.

Taking an advantage of a turnover by Houston in its own half of the field, Blanco collected the loose ball and fired a dipping strike that skipped just wide of the post in the 42nd minute. Just a minute later, Blanco dribbled around multiple defenders inside the Houston box, sending a shot inches wide of the right post.

Manotas scored his second goal of the game to increase Houston's lead to 3-1 in the 71st minute. Elis was able to get to the end line and deliver a cross into the box. Goalkeeper Steve Clark leaped up to knock the ball away, but Manotas was able to convert from close range.

Forward Jeremy Ebobisse found space and directed a header on target, forcing a save by Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis after Diego Valeri curled a corner kick into the box for Ebobisse inside the box in the 76th minute. Less than a minute later, Andy Polo fired a shot from inside the box that just missed the target.

On a set piece, Houston recorded its fourth goal of the match in the 81st minute. Delivering a ball deep from the right corner, Manotas flicked the ball on for Fuenmayor at the back post and he finished near the post.

Searching for a goal in second-half stoppage time, Valeri dribbled down the right side of the field and slid a well-weighted pass into space for Blanco inside the box and he fired a shot from inside the box that skipped wide of the left post.

Notes:

Midfielder Diego Valeri made his 175th career appearance for the Timbers in the match. He is one of three players (across all eras) to have made 175 appearances for the club.

Defender Zarek Valentin started his 100th career MLS match in Houston on Saturday.

Valentin made his 28th MLS appearance for Portland this season in the match. He is the only Timbers player to feature in all 28 matches this season.

Next game

Facing a quick turnaround, the Timbers return to the Rose City for a midweek match on Wednesday, Sept. 19, against Columbus Crew SC at Providence Park. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), the Sept. 19 match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a local television broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS (KPDX) and local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (12-8-8, 44pts) at Houston Dynamo (8-13-7, 27pts)

Sept. 15, 2018 - BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 0 1

Houston Dynamo 2 2 4

Scoring Summary:

POR: Own goal (Fuenmayor), 9

HOU: Elis (Martínez), 32

HOU: Manotas (Elis, Martínez), 39

HOU: Manotas, 71

HOU: Fuenmayor, 81

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Valentin (caution), 31

POR: Ebobisse (caution), 34

HOU: Manotas (caution), 65

HOU: Fuenmayor (caution), 84

POR: Guzmán (caution), 87

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Powell, D Mabiala, D Cascante, D Valentin (Villafaña, 56), M Chara, M Olum (Guzmán, 83), M Paredes (Polo, 63), M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Ebobisse

Substitutes Not Used: GK McIntosh, D Tuiloma, F Melano, F Armenteros

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Valeri, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 48 (Polo, 3); FOULS: 7 (Chara, Ebobisse, 2); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1

HOU: GK Willis, D Wenger, D Watts (Garcia, 56), D Fuenmayor, D Beasley ©, M Alexander (Cabezas, 46), M Garcia, M Ellis, M Martínez, M Quioto (Cerén, 82), F Manotas

Substitutes Not Used: GK Seitz, D Lundqvist, M Rodriguez, F Peña

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Martinez, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (Blomberg, 4); OFFSIDES: 2 CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 4

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Greeson

4th Official: Marcos Deoliveira

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 15,256

Weather: Clear, 82 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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