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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Punch Ticket to MLS Is Back Tournament Final with 2-1 Win over Philadelphia Union

August 6, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Receiving a goal in each half, the Portland Timbers secured their spot in the final of the MLS is Back Tournament with a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Union in the semifinal round at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Wednesday night. Jeremy Ebobisse scored his team-leading fourth goal of the tournament early in the first half, while Sebastián Blanco registered his third goal of the competition in the second half to help Portland secure its spot in the tournament final on Aug. 11.

Tournament Finals and Elimination Games

With their win, the Timbers advanced to their fourth tournament final as a club, which includes MLS Cup in 2018 and 2015 and the 1975 NASL Soccer Bowl. With head coach Giovanni Savarese at the helm, Portland has advanced to a tournament final in two of its last three seasons. Notably, during Savarese's managerial career with the New York Cosmos and Portland he has coached in 35 elimination matches, posting a record of 22-11-2.

Blanco Rolling

Blanco scored for a second consecutive match, tallying the game-winner against Philadelphia. With the goal, Blanco has been directly involved in eight of the Timbers' 12 goals at the tournament, recording three goals and five assists. Blanco has scored or assisted in all six MLS is Back Tournament matches. His six consecutive matches with a goal or assist is the longest streak of his Portland career. Additionally, he is the only player with three or more goals and three or more assists in the competition.

Assist Men

Diego Valeri recorded a pair of assists in the match becoming the second player to record multiple assists for Portland during the tournament. It marks the 16th time in all competitions Valeri has registered a multi-assist game during his Timbers career. Additionally, Valeri has five career assists against the Union, which is the most by Valeri against an Eastern Conference opponent. Notably, Dario Zuparic registered his first career assist with Portland. He is the eighth player to tally an assist for the Timbers in the tournament.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Jeremy Ebobisse (Diego Valeri), 13th minute: Off a corner kick, Valeri played the ball to the center of the box and Ebobisse deposited the ball into the back of the net with a header from the top of the six-yard box.

POR - Sebastián Blanco (Dario Zuparic, Diego Valeri), 70th minute: Zuparic directed a header off a corner kick by Valeri to Blanco, who converted with a header from a tight angle near the left post.

PHI - Andrew Wooten, 85th minute: Steve Clark made the initial save on a free kick, parrying away the attempt from the left wing by Jamiro Monteiro, but Andrew Wooten pounced and finished from close range.

Notes

The Timbers advanced to their fourth tournament final as a club, joining the 1975 NASL Soccer Bowl, the 2015 MLS Cup and the 2018 MLS Cup.

Wednesday's match was the 35th elimination match as a manager in Giovanni Savarese's managerial career with the Timbers and New York Cosmos. His record in those matches is 22-11-2.

Diego Chara was named the Heineken Man of the Match.

Sebastián Blanco has been directly involved in eight of the Timbers' 12 goals at the tournament, recording three goals and five assists.

Blanco has recorded a goal or an assist in all six matches in the tournament. His six consecutive matches with a goal or assist is the longest streak of his Portland career.

Blanco is the only player with three or more goals and three or more assists (five) in the competition.

Dario Zuparic registered his first career assist with the Timbers.

Zuparic is the eighth player to tally an assist in the tournament for Portland.

Portland recorded its fifth consecutive win in all competitions against Philadelphia, improving to 7-1-3 in the all-time series against the Union.

Diego Valeri has five career assists against the Union in all competitions, which is the most by Valeri against any Eastern Conference opponent.

Valeri delivered two assists in the match. It is the 16th time in all competitions that Valeri has had multiple assists in a match for the Timbers.

Jeremy Ebobisse scored his fourth goal of the MLS is Back Tournament. Ebobisse is tied for third-most goals in the competition.

Ebobisse has seven goals from headers in MLS competitions since the beginning of the 2019 season, which is tied for the most in that time span with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ebobisse has played in 61 consecutive matches across all competitions, dating back to Sept. 8, 2018.

Eryk Williamson finished the match with a passing accuracy of 90 percent.

Jorge Villafaña finished with a game-high six tackles.

Goalkeeper Steve Clark made seven saves, which is tied for the second-most Clark has made in a single match for the Timbers.

Next Game

Portland will face either Minnesota United FC or Orlando City SC in the final of the MLS is Back Tournament on Tuesday, Aug. 11; kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The tournament final will be broadcast on ESPN with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union - MLS is Back Tournament - Semifinals

Aug. 5, 2020 - ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Orlando, Fla.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 1 2

Philadelphia Union 0 1 1

Scoring Summary:

POR: Ebobisse (Valeri), 13

POR: Blanco (Zuparic, Valeri), 70

PHI: Wooten, 85

Misconduct Summary:

PHI: Wagner (caution), 38

PHI: Bedoya (caution), 62

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Duvall, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Villafaña (Bonilla, 86), M D. Chara, M Williamson, M Loría (Polo, 56), M Valeri © (Tuiloma, 90+1), M Blanco (Mora, 86), F Ebobisse (Niezgoda, 56)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Attinella, D Cascante, D Farfan, M Bodily, M Conechny, M Paredes, M Zambrano

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Blanco, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 5 (Five players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 7

PHI: GK Blake, D Gaddis, D Elliott, D McKenzie, D Wagner, M Bedoya ©, M Martínez (Wooten, 72), M Monteiro, M Aaronson, F Przybylko, F Santos (Ilsinho, 59)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bendik, D Glesnes, D Mbaizo, D Real, D Collin, M Turner, M De Vries, M Fontana, M Oravec, F Ngalina

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Przybylko, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Przybylko, 2); FOULS: 16 (Monteiro, Santos, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 5

Referee: Allen Chapman

Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jeremy Kieso

4th Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Joe Dickerson

Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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