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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers, Minnesota United FC Play to Thrilling 4-4 Draw

July 30, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers rallied from a 3-1 halftime deficit to claim a point on the road with a 4-4 draw against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday afternoon, extending their unbeaten streak to eight games. Sebastián Blanco recorded a brace and Jaroslaw Niezgoda tallied his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Momentum

Portland extended its unbeaten run to eight matches, posting a record of 4-0-4 during that span. The Timbers are also unbeaten in their last four matches on the road with a record of 1-0-3. During its unbeaten run, Portland has outscored its opponents 18-10, tallying multiple goals in six of those eight matches. Niezgoda has scored a team-best six goals during this run for the Timbers. Moreno has three goals and four assists.

Blanco Bangers

Blanco made history today when he opened the scoring in the match with a goal in the first 13 seconds. Blanco's goal was the fifth-fastest goal scored in MLS history, including playoffs, and the fastest since Justin Meram's goal after nine seconds in the 2015 playoffs. Blanco is the first player in club history to score multiple goals in consecutive MLS matches against a single opponent (including playoffs) and the first player to do so against Minnesota. The Argentine recorded his second brace of the season, and his sixth brace in MLS competition.

Goal Scorers & Playmakers

Niezgoda scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season and recorded his second assist of the campaign. Niezgoda has four goals and two assists in his last five games. Niezgoda is the eighth player to register multiple assists in 2022 for the Timbers. Blanco notched his fifth goal of the season in the match. Santiago Moreno tallied two assists, recording his first career multi-assist game with Portland. Moreno increased his season total to seven assists. He is one of three players on the team with at least seven assists along with Blanco and Yimmi Chara. Moreno also became the fourth different player to record a multi-assist game for the Timbers in 2022, joining Eryk Williamson, Cristhian Paredes and Blanco. Yimmi Chara recorded his team-leading eighth assist of the season.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Santiago Moreno), 1st minute: The four-pass sequence started with Sebastián Blanco passing the ball to Santiago Moreno, who on his first touch weaved the ball to Jaroslaw Niezgoda at the top of the 18-yard box. Niezgoda passed to Blanco, who fired a left-footed shot to right corner of the goal.

MIN - Franco Fragapane (Luis Amarilla, Emanuel Reynoso), 9th minute: Emanuel Reynoso delivered a corner kick to the near post. Luis Amarilla flicked the ball, sending a header back toward Fragapane at the back post for a finish with another header at the goal line.

MIN - Bongokuhle Hlongwane, 21st minute: Off a quick restart, Fragapane directed a cross played into the center of the box, sending the ball off the left post. Bongokuhle Hlongwane pounced on the loose ball and converted from close range.

MIN - Luis Amarilla (Franco Fragapane), 41st minute: Fragapane poked the ball into space for Amarilla running down the left side of the field. Amarilla dribbled into the box and cut back toward the middle of the goal, sending his shot inside the right post.

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Santiago Moreno, Yimmi Chara), 50th minute: Yimmi Chara delivered a cross from the left wing to Moreno inside the box on the right side. Moreno settled the ball and slotted a pass to Blanco near the penalty spot for the finish into the bottom right corner of the goal.

POR - Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Claudio Bravo), 53rd minute: Off a free kick, Claudio Bravo sent his delivery into the center of the box for Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who redirected the ball with a flicked on header inside the left post.

POR - Kemar Lawrence (own goal), 65th minute: Blanco dribbled into the box from the right side and hit a low, hard shot from a tight angle toward the right post. Kemar Lawrence deflected the ball at the edge of the six-yard box past Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair at the near post into the net.

MIN - Luis Amarilla, 69th minute: Reynoso played a cross from the left side to the back post. The ball was headed back across the face of the goal and Amarilla jumped, depositing a header into the back of the net at the near post.

Notes

Portland extended its undefeated streak to eight games (4-0-4) and is unbeaten in its last four matches on the road (1-0-3).

The Timbers have scored 29 goals in the second half of matches this season, which is tied for the most in MLS with LAFC.

Portland has scored in nine consecutive matches, tallying 19 goals during that stretch.

The Timbers have scored 12 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in MLS.

Portland is one of three teams (LAFC, Austin FC) with 25 or more goals in the second half of matches in 2022.

The Timbers have recorded 39 goals scored in 2022, which is fourth-most in the league.

The Timbers have scored in nine consecutive matches, including nine scored on the road.

Portland is the third-highest scoring team in the Western Conference as only Austin FC (45) and LAFC (44) have scored more goals.

Jaroslaw Niezgoda recorded his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Niezgoda has scored six goals in his last eight matches, including four goals in his last five games.

Niezgoda also tallied his second assist of the season today.

Niezgoda is the eighth player to record multiple assists for Portland this campaign.

Sebastián Blanco recorded his fifth goal of the season today.

Blanco's goal after 13 seconds is the fifth-fastest goal in MLS history, including playoffs, and the fastest since Justin Meram's goal after nine seconds in the 2015 playoffs.

The brace was the sixth of Blanco's career, including playoffs, and his second of the 2022 season.

Blanco is the first player in club history to score multiple goals in consecutive MLS matches against a single opponent (including playoffs). He is also the first player to do so against Minnesota.

Santiago Moreno registered his first career multi-assist game.

Moreno also became the fourth different player to record a multi-assist game for the Timbers in 2022 along with Eryk Williamson, Cristhian Paredes and Blanco.

Moreno has scored three goals and tallied four assists during the Timbers unbeaten run.

Moreno is one of three players with seven or more assists this season along with Sebastián Blanco (7), Yimmi Chara (8).

Yimmi Chara recorded his team-leading eighth assist of the season.

Claudio Bravo recorded his first assist of the season today.

Bravo is the 10th player to record an assist for the Timbers this season.

Diego Chara made his 350th MLS appearance (regular season and playoffs) today. He is the seventh player to make 350 appearances for a single club in MLS history.

D. Chara will not be available for the next match due to yellow card accumulation.

Next Game

The Timbers return to Providence Park for a midweek match against Nashville SC on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a local broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

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