MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Register 1-0 Win on the Road against New York City FC

Published on July 7, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


NEW YORK CITY - The Portland Timbers received an early first-half goal from Sebastián Blanco and recorded their fourth shutout in their last five matches in all competitions to earn a 1-0 win against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night.

Timbers form

The Timbers (7-8-2, 23pts) have earned seven wins in their last 11 league matches, while posting a record 9-3-1 in its last 13 matches across all competitions. Portland has registered seven league wins since April 20, which is tied for the second-most wins by any MLS team during that span. Notably, the Timbers have posted a clean sheet in four of their last five matches in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 11-2 during that span.

On the road

Portland picked up its fifth win of the season on the road on Sunday. The Timbers five road wins rank tied for the most in MLS in 2019. Portland has earned at least one point in three of its last four road matches, recording five wins in its last eight MLS matches on the road. Additionally, the Timbers have recorded four road wins against Eastern Conference opponents this season.

Against NYCFC

With the win, Portland handed NYCFC its first home loss and second loss overall of the 2019 season. The Timbers snapped NYCFC's 12-game unbeaten streak, which entering the match was the longest unbeaten streak in MLS this season. Portland earned its third consecutive victory in the series and improved to 4-1-0 all-time against NYCFC, including a mark of 3-0-0 on the road at Yankee Stadium with three shutouts.

Key plays

Working down the right side of the field, Dairon Asprilla nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute for Portland. Asprilla dribbled down the end line and fired a shot from a tight angle off the right post near the edge of the six-yard box.

The Timbers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute as Blanco recorded his third goal of the season. After Diego Valeri delivered a chipped ball into the box from the left wing on a set piece, NYCFC was unable to clear the ball and Blanco pounced, tucking his shot inside the right post.

Blanco made a key defensive stop early in the second half. NYCFC played a cross from the left side into the center of the box and Anton Tinnerholm connected, firing a shot from close range, but Blanco slid in and made the block on the attempt in the 47th minute.

Searching for a second goal, Valeri picked out Brian Fernandez at the edge of the box in the 66th minute. Fernandez settled the ball and sent a shot from just inside the box that was deflected just wide of the left post.

In the 67th minute, Maximiliano Moralez unleashed a powerful strike from inside the box, but Marco Farfan jumped in front of the shot to make the block.

In the 76th minute on the counter-attack, Blanco played a pinpoint pass from the left side of the field to Jeremy Ebobisse running free down the right side of the box. Ebobisse collected the ball and fired a shot from a tight angle off the right post.

Deep in second-half stoppage time, Alexander Ring lofted a ball from near midfield on a free kick to Sebastien Ibeagha at the right post. Ibeagha sent a looping header toward goal, but Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Notes:

Portland's seven league wins since April 20 are tied for the second-most wins by any MLS team in that span.

The Timbers four road regular-season wins at Eastern Conference opponents this season are the most wins on the road for the Timbers against Eastern Conference teams in a single season.

Sebastián Blanco scored his third goal in MLS this season and his fourth goal in all competitions.

Blanco has now scored 21 league goals in his Timbers career, which is 12th most in the club's history across all eras.

Blanco's goal came in the 14th and was the earliest goal scored by a Timbers player this season.

Goalkeeper Steve Clark has recorded three consecutive shutouts in MLS play and four consecutive shutouts in all competitions this year.

Portland is 3-0-0 all-time at Yankee Stadium, winning each match by a 1-0 score line.

With the shutout win, the Timbers are the only MLS team ever to defeat and shutout a single opponent in every road match against them (minimum of two matches played).

Next game

Facing a quick turnaround, the Timbers travel to square off against Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 10, at Banc of California Stadium; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a broadcast available on ESPN+.

Portland Timbers (7-8-2, 23pts) vs. New York City FC (7-2-8, 29pts)

July 7, 2019 - Yankee Stadium (Bronx, N.Y.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 0 1

New York City FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Blanco, 14

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Dielna (caution), 40

POR: Farfan (caution), 44

POR: Blanco (caution), 44

POR: Asprilla (caution), 45+1

POR: Valentin (caution), 45+2

NYC: Sweat (caution), 81

NYC: Ofori (caution), 88

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Valentin, D Mabiala, D Dielna, D Farfan, M Flores, M Zambarno (Chara, 76), M Asprilla (Ebobisse, 64), M Valeri © (LorÃ-a, 89), M Blanco, F Fernandez

Substitutes Not Used: GK McIntosh, D Cascante, D Moreira, M Conechny

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Blanco, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Blanco, 2); FOULS: 14 (Asprilla, Mabiala, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5

NYC: GK Stuver, D Tinnerholm, D Ibeagha, D Chanot, D Sweat, M Parks, M Ring, M Ofori, F Moralez, F Castellanos, F Matarrita (Medina, 68)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Barraza, M Torres, M Bedoya, M Haak

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Parks, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); FOULS: 12 (Ibeagha, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 13; SAVES: 1

Referee: Ted Unkel

Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, Brian Dunn

4th Official: Elvis Osmanovic

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

Attendance: 18,363

Weather: Partly cloudy, 81 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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