MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Register 2-1 Win against Houston Dynamo FC in 2021 MLS Home Opener

Published on April 25, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers tallied a late-second half goal to secure a 2-1 win against Houston Dynamo FC in their MLS home opener at Providence Park on Saturday night. Cristhian Paredes notched the game-winning goal - his first of the 2021 season - to help Portland earn the win, while Dairon Asprilla recorded his first goal of the campaign.

Goal Scorers

Asprilla and Paredes tallied their first goals of the 2021 campaign in the match. Both players notched their first goals since the 2019 season. Asprilla scored on Oct. 19, 2019 in the MLS Cup Playoffs at Real Salt Lake, while Paredes had two goals against the LA Galaxy on July 27, 2019. It was Asprilla's eighth career regular-season goal and the sixth goal for Paredes.

Bodily Debut

Homegrown player Blake Bodily made his MLS regular-season debut in the match, earning his first start and logging 60 minutes. He notched an assist just six minutes into the match, which is the quickest a Timbers player has ever tallied an assist or goal into their Portland career. In addition, it marked Bodily's first start at Providence Park since he featured for T2 against Oklahoma City Energy FC on June 17, 2017.

Against Houston

With the win, Portland improved to 8-5-5 all-time against Houston in MLS regular-season play. The Timbers won their fifth consecutive match against the Dynamo FC at Providence Park, extending their home unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1) against Houston. Portland is 7-1-1 all-time at home against Dynamo FC, outscoring its opponent by a margin of 21-10.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Dairon Asprilla (Pablo Bonilla, Blake Bodily), 6th minute: Off a throw-in along the right sideline, Pablo Bonilla dribbled toward the end line and crossed the ball into the center of the box for Asprilla, who fired a strike into the bottom left corner of the goal.

HOU - Own goal (Cristhian Paredes), 28th minute: Off a short corner kick, Tyler Pasher delivered a cross to the top of the six-yard box amongst a group of players and the ball ricocheted off Paredes into the net.

POR - Cristhian Paredes (Felipe Mora, Bill Tuiloma), 73rd minute: Felipe Mora received a long pass inside the box from Bill Tuiloma. Mora directed a header downward for Paredes, who made a surging run into the box and unleashed a powerful strike off the bounce, sending it past a diving Marko Maric.

Notes

Portland improved to 6-2-3 in MLS home openers with the win over Houston.

Cristhian Paredes scored the game-winning goal. The goal was the sixth goal of his MLS career.

It marked the second time Paredes has scored in a Timbers MLS home opener as he also scored in the club's 2019 home opener against LAFC.

Dairon Asprilla scored in the sixth minute, which was the earliest goal the club has scored in a home opener in the club's MLS era.

In his 2021 regular season debut, Pablo Bonilla notched the second assist of his Timbers career. Bonilla's other assist came on Oct. 28, 2020.

Coming into the match as a substitute, Felipe Mora delivered his third career assist with the club.

Bill Tuiloma recorded the second assist of his MLS career. Tuiloma also had an assist in Portland's 2-2 draw with LAFC on July 23, 2020.

Jeff Attinella notched his first win as a starter since April 20, 2019 against Columbus Crew SC and his first win as a starter at Providence Park since Portland's win over Seattle Sounders FC in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs on Nov. 4, 2018.

Next Game

Up next, the Timbers play host to Club América in the first leg of the quarterfinal round in Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League play on Wednesday, April 28, at Providence Park. The April 28 match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) on FS1.

Portland Timbers (1-1-0, 3pts) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (1-1-0, 3pts)

April 24, 2021 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Houston Dynamo FC 1 0 1

Portland Timbers 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: Asprilla (Bonilla, Bodily), 6

HOU: Own goal (Paredes), 28

POR: Paredes (Mora, Tuiloma), 73

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Asprilla (caution), 26

HOU: Valentin (caution), 36

HOU: Urruti (caution), 37

POR: Bravo (caution), 39

Lineups:

POR: GK Attinella, D Bonilla (Van Rankin, 82), D Mabiala (Zuparic, 45), D Tuiloma, D Bravo, M D. Chara, M Paredes, M Loría (Williamson, 74), M Y. Chara (Valeri, 45), M Asprilla, F Bodily (Mora, 60)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D McGraw, M Zambrano

TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Loría, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Asprilla, 2); FOULS: 17 (Four players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

HOU: GK Maric, D Valentin, D Parker, D Lundkvist, M Rodríguez (Ramirez, 87), M Vera, M García ©, M Corona (Jones, 74), F Picault (Lassiter, 74), F Urruti (Quintero, 78), F Pasher

Substitutes Not Used: GK Nelson, D Fuenmayor, D Figueroa, D Hoffmann, M Ceren

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Lassiter, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 14 (Lundkvist, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Jeremy Hanson

Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Younes Marrakchi

Weather: Cloudy, 52 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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