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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Win Sixth Straight Match with 3-2 Away Victory over Colorado Rapids

May 26, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - The Portland Timbers recorded their sixth straight win in league play, defeating the Colorado Rapids 3-2 before 17,424 fans at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Scoring for a second straight game, forward Samuel Armenteros recorded his first career brace in MLS, while midfielder Diego Valeri notched his fifth goal of the season when he added Portland's third goal of the match. Additionally, midfielder Sebastián Blanco tallied two assists in the win over the Rapids, marking the first time the midfielder has recorded two assists in an MLS match.

Timbers winning streak

With the 3-2 win over the Rapids, the Timbers (6-3-2, 20pts) won their sixth straight match, which extends their club record for consecutive wins in MLS regular-season action. Across all eras, Saturday's victory marks the fifth time that the Timbers have won six or more matches in a row (1975, 1978, 2004, 2007). Portland's six-game winning streak also ranks tied as the second-longest winning streak in a single season in MLS since the league began recording draws. Sporting Kansas City holds the league record for consecutive wins (7) in a single season since the league starting recording draws, accomplishing the feat in the 2012 campaign.

Facing Colorado

Portland's three goals against the Rapids (2-6-2, 8pts) rank as the most goals the Timbers have scored at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in 11 fixtures played in Commerce City, Colo., since the start of the 2011 season. Heading into the match, the last time Portland tallied three or more goals in Colorado was 40 years ago when the Timbers defeated the Colorado Caribous in the club's NASL era.

Armenteros notches a brace

With two goals in the first half, Armenteros found the back of the net for a second straight match in league play. Armenteros' brace is the first by a Timbers player this season and the first road brace for any Portland player since the 2015 campaign.

Scoring away from home

With the game-winning goal in Saturday's match, Valeri notched his 12th goal away from home since the start of the 2017 season. Valeri's 12 away goals in 23 matches played away from Providence Park ranks as the second-most in the league during that stretch, behind only New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips (14).

Key plays

Five minutes into the match, Portland created a chance after forcing a turnover inside the Rapids' 18-yard box, with Valeri blasting a powerful effort that forced a strong save from goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Portland opened the scoring in the 28th minute of play when Armenteros scored his second goal of the season. Armenteros' finish took place after a pass from Blanco broke through the lines, finding the striker who cleverly flicked the ball around his marker, before carefully curling his strike into the top corner.

Three minutes later, Colorado leveled the score when midfielder Edgar Castillo's driven cross into the box forced an own goal in the 31st minute of play.

The Timbers responded shortly afterward when Armenteros scored his second goal of the match just six minutes after Colorado's equalizer. The forward was able to record his brace when another pass from Blanco - a floated cross into the box - forced a difficult decision for Howard, who parried the ball to the back post. Waiting at the back post, Armenteros quickly headed the ball into the back of the net to give Portland a 2-1 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

In the 57th minute, Portland extended its lead when Valeri was able to tally his fifth goal of the season on the counter attack. Attacking quickly on the break, the Timbers found themselves in an advantageous position when Blanco carried the ball down the right-hand side of the field, before playing a pass back to the edge of the area for Valeri, who took a touch past his defender before calmly tucking the ball past Howard and into the far corner.

With less than 15 minutes remaining in the game, Armenteros came close to recording the first hat-trick in club history when he broke free in behind the Rapids defense for a one-on-one chance with Howard, with the goalkeeper making a strong save to deny the striker his third goal of the game in the 76th minute.

In the eighth minute of stoppage time, the Rapids added the final goal of the game when Yannick Boli converted from the penalty spot.

Notes:

The three goals by the Timbers scored are the most Portland has scored at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in 11 matches at the facility.

In May, Portland's win total (4) and point total (12) are the most in each category by the Timbers in any calendar month since becoming an MLS team in 2011.

The Timbers' six-match win streak is tied for the longest in MLS this season with Orlando City SC and also ranks tied as the second-longest in a single season in MLS since the league began recording draws. Sporting Kansas City notched a seven-game winning streak in 2012.

Across all eras, Saturday's victory marks the fifth time that the Timbers have won six or more matches in a row (1975, 1978, 2004, 2007).

Samuel Armenteros scored two goals in the win over Colorado. The brace was the first multi-goal game this season by a Timbers player and the first road brace for the club since the 2015 season.

For just the third time in the Timbers' MLS history, a player scored two goals in the first half of a road match, with Armenteros joining Fanendo Adi (June 7, 2014 at Real Salt Lake) and Diego Valeri (Oct. 26, 2013 at Chivas USA).

Valeri scored the match-winning goal, his fifth goal of the season.

Valeri has scored 63 goals for his MLS career, 10 more than any other player in club history across all eras (since 1975).

Sebastián Blanco recorded two assists in a single match for the first time in his MLS career.

Diego Chara tied the club record across all eras for games played, notching his 214th appearance.

Next game

Next up, the Timbers will return to Providence Park to play host to the LA Galaxy on Saturday, June 2. Beginning at 2 p.m. (Pacific), the match against the Galaxy will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (6-3-2, 20pts) vs. Colorado Rapids (2-6-2, 8pts)

May 26, 2018 - Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 2 1 3

Colorado Rapids 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: Armenteros (Blanco), 28

COL: Own goal, 31

POR: Armenteros, 37

POR: Valeri (Blanco), 57

COL: Boli (Penalty kick), 90+8

Misconduct Summary:

COL: Gashi (Caution), 3

COL: Wilson (Caution), 23

POR: Valeri (Caution), 38

POR: Mabiala (Caution), 62

COL: Boli (Caution), 87

POR: Flores (Caution), 90

Lineups:

POR: GK Attinella, D Powell (Tuiloma, 78), D Mabiala, D Cascante, D Valentin, M Paredes (Guzmán, 83), M Chara, M Flores, M Valeri ©, M Blanco, F Armenteros (Adi, 75)

Substitutes Not Used: GK McIntosh, D Farfan, M Olum, M Arboleda

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Armenteros, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Armenteros, 3); FOULS: 13 (Cascante, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

COL: GK Howard, D Wynne, D Wilson, D Smith, M Boateng (Mason, 66), M Nicholson, M Price, M Martinez, M Castillo, F Badji, M Gashi

Substitutes Not Used: GK MacMath, D Sjoberg, M Serna, M Azira, F Boli, F McBean

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Badji, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Badji, 2); FOULS: 13 (Nicholson, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2

Referee: Sorin Stoica

Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Greeson, Craig Lowry

4th Official: Fotis Bazakos

VAR: Younes Marrakchi

Attendance: 17,424

Weather: Partly cloudy, 70 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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