Timbers Secure No. 3 Seed in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with 1-1 Draw on the Road against Los Angeles FC
November 8, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release
LOS ANGELES - The Portland Timbers received a late second-half goal from Jorge Villafaña to earn a 1-1 draw on the road against Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium on the final day of the regular season. With the result, Portland secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and will play host to the No. 6 seed FC Dallas at Providence Park in the first round of Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Postseason Portland
The Timbers secured a spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for a fourth straight season, and the sixth time (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) in the club's MLS history. Portland's four consecutive trips to the postseason is the longest streak in club history. Notably, Giovanni Savarese is the first manager in team history to advance to the playoffs in three straight seasons.
Offensive Output
Portland scored the second-most goals (46) during the regular season, trailing only LAFC (47 goals). The Timbers finished the season with 21 goals over their nine road games, which was the most of any team in MLS. The 2.33 goals per road game is the second-highest average for a season in MLS history behind only the 1998 LA Galaxy.
Villafaña + Valeri
Jorge Villafaña scored his first goal of the season and his first goal since Oct. 25, 2015. He is the 14th different player to score for the Timbers this season. Diego Valeri recorded the assist on Villafaña's goal. The assist was his seventh of the season. With the assist, Valeri has tallied seven or more assists in each of his eight seasons with Portland.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LAFC - Carlos Vela, 5th minute: Latif Blessing fired a shot from the edge of the box and Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark parried the attempt away, but Carlos Vela pounced on the loose ball and converted the rebound.
POR - Jorge Villafaña (Diego Valeri, Andy Polo), 90th minute: On the counter attack, the Timbers worked the ball down the right side of the field. Diego Valeri delivered a pinpoint cross from the right wing to Jorge Villafaña, who made a late run into the box and deposited a header into the back of the net.
Notes
Jorge Villafaña scored his first goal of the season and his first goal since Oct. 25, 2015.
Villafaña's goal was the third headed goal of his career with the others coming 2018 and 2013 for Chivas USA.
Villafaña is the 14th different player to score for the Timbers this season.
Diego Valeri delivered his seventh assist of the season.
Valeri has recorded seven or more assists in each of his first eight seasons with the Timbers, joining Brad Davis, Preki and Marco Etcheverry as the only players to record seven or more assists in eight consecutive seasons.
Valeri has 88 regular-season assists for his Timbers career, which is 10th-most in MLS history.
Valeri has tallied 38 career road assists, which are eighth-most in MLS history.
Andy Polo delivered his second assist of the season and the fifth of his MLS career.
The Timbers return to the playoffs for a fourth straight season - the longest streak in club history.
Portland will be the No. 3 seed for the second time (2015) in club history.
Giovanni Savarese is the first manager in team history to advance to the playoffs in three straight seasons.
The Timbers finished the regular season with 21 goals in nine road games for an average of 2.33 goals per road match. That is the second-highest road goals per game average in MLS history behind only the 1998 LA Galaxy.
Next Game
The Timbers play host to FC Dallas in the first round of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at Providence Park. The date, time and broadcast information for the match is to be determined.
Portland Timbers (11-6-6, 39pts) vs. Los Angeles FC (9-8-5, 32pts)
Nov. 8, 2020 - Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
LAFC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
LAFC: Vela, 5
POR: Villafaña (Valeri, Polo), 90
Misconduct Summary:
LAFC: Blessing (caution), 27
POR: Valeri (caution), 31
LAFC: Torres (caution), 63
POR: Asprilla (caution), 81
POR: Mabiala (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark, D Duvall (Farfan, 77), D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Villafaña, M Paredes (Polo, 77), M Williamson, M LorÃÂa (Asprilla, 67), M Valeri ©, M Y. Chara, F Mora
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Bonilla, D Tuiloma, M Conechny, M Flores, M Zambrano
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Mora, Valeri, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (Mabiala, Mora, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 6
LAFC: GK Vermeer, D Blackmon, D Murillo (Jakovic, 45), D Segura, D Harvey, M Cifuentes (Kaye, 88), M Atuesta, M Blessing (Ginella, 88), F Torres (RodrÃÂguez, 76), F Rossi, F Vela
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ejimandu, D Leone, D Duenas, D Palacios, M Duke
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Rossi, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Rossi, 2); FOULS: 13 (Blessing, Torres, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Elijo Arreguin
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
Weather: Sunny, 59 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
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