MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers, Sporting Kansas City Play to 0-0 Draw in First Leg of Western Conference Championship

Published on November 25, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs in front of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday. It marked Portland's ninth clean sheet in 19 home MLS matches, including playoffs, during the 2018 season.

The Timbers travel for the second leg of the series against Sporting Kansas City on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Children's Mercy Park. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be broadcast on ESPN and will feature local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Home form

With the draw, Portland concluded its 2018 home campaign unbeaten in its last seven matches (5-0-2) at Providence Park, including playoffs, while registering five shutouts during that span. The Timbers posted a record of 14-2-5 in all competitions at Providence Park in 2018.

Clean sheets

The Timbers recorded their 11th shutout of the 2018 season and their ninth overall at Providence Park. Additionally, it was the ninth time Portland has held an opponent scoreless in a playoff game across all eras (since 1975). The Timbers held Sporting Kansas City without a shot on target for the first 55 minutes, surrendering just one shot on goal the entire match.

Creating chances

Diego Valeri finished the match with seven chances created, which is tied for the second-most chances created by a Timbers player in an MLS playoff game. Valeri has created 17 chances during the 2018 postseason - nine more than any other MLS player.

Key plays

Portland nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match. Zarek Valentin played a cross into the box near the right end line. The ball took a deflection off a Sporting Kansas City player and Jorge Villafaña pounced on the bouncing ball near the edge of the box, unleashing a swerving, one-time shot that rattled the inside of the right post.

The Timbers generated consecutive chances off set pieces in first-half stoppage time. Dairon Asprilla got on the end of Valeri's service into the box from the right wing, directing a header on frame and forcing a save by Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.

Less than a minute later, Valeri delivered a deep free kick into the box from near midfield. Liam Ridgewell jumped and sent a looping header toward the right post, but Melia dove and punched the ball away.

Ridgewell and Valentin combined to make a key defensive play in the 58th minute. With Sporting Kansas City on the counter-attack, Daniel Sallói made a late run down the left side of the box, firing a shot from close range, but Ridgewell and Valentin slid in front to block the attempt.

Bill Tuiloma nearly put Portland ahead in the 82nd minute, connecting with Valeri's corner kick and putting a powerful header on frame, but Melia leaped to his right to snag the ball out of the air.

Ridgewell again made a key block, this time deep in second-half stoppage time. Sallói received a pass inside the box and fired a shot from point-blank range, but Ridgewell sacrificed his body, diving in front of Sallói's shot.

Notes:

- Portland recorded its 11th shutout of the 2018 season and its ninth overall at Providence Park.

- Sunday's shutout marked the ninth time in Timbers history across all eras that the team has held an opponent scoreless in a playoff game.

- The match was the 45th playoff game in Timbers history since the club's founding in 1975.

- Portland finished its home campaign with a record of 14-2-5 in all competitions.

- Diego Valeri was credited with seven chances created in the match, which is tied for the second-most chances created by a Timbers player in an MLS playoff game. Valeri had eight chances created against Sporting Kansas City in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

- Valeri has created 17 chances during the 2018 postseason - nine more than any other player in MLS.

- Jeff Attinella started his sixth playoff game for Portland, tying the club record for most career postseason starts for a Timbers goalkeeper with Matt Napoleon, who started six playoff games for Portland in 2001 and 2002.

- Attinella has two career shutouts in the postseason for Portland. His two shutouts are tied with Josh Wicks for the most postseason shutouts by a Timbers goalkeepers across all eras (since 1975).

- Valeri has started 15 MLS postseason matches since joining Portland in 2013. Only Bradley Wright-Phillips and Chad Marshall have more playoffs starts during that span.

Next game

Up next, the Timbers travel for the second leg of the Western Conference Championship against Sporting Kansas City on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Children's Mercy Park. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be broadcast on ESPN and will feature local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs | Western Conference Championship - Leg 1

Sporting Kansas City (1) vs. Portland Timbers (5)

Nov. 25, 2018 - Providence Park (Portland. Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0

Portland Timbers 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

None

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Guzmán (caution), 36

SKC: Sinovic (caution), 45+1

SKC: Besler (caution), 66

SKC: Sallói (caution), 89

Lineups:

POR: GK Attinella, D Valentin, D Mabiala (Tuiloma, 19), D Ridgewell, D Villafaña, M Chara, M Guzmán, M Asprilla, M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Ebobisse (Melano, 81)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Clark, D Powell, M Olum, M Flores, M Conechny

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Ridgewell, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Ridgwell, 2); FOULS: 16 (Asprilla, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1

SKC: GK Melia, D Zusi, D Opara, D Besler ©, D Sinovic, M Sánchez, M Espinoza, M Gutiérrez, F Russell (Croizet, 90+2), F Sallói, F Shelton

Substitutes Not Used: GK Zendejas, D Fontás, D Evans, M Németh, F Busio, F Fernandes,

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Sinovic, 1); FOULS: 15 (Sinovic, 4); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 6

Referee: Robert Sibiga

Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, Corey Rockwell

4th Official: Ted Unkel

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

AVAR: Jeremy Hanson

Attendance: 21,144

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 48 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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