Timbers FC Draw 1-1 Against Whitecaps To Win Seven Consecutive Home Matches
Soccer News: Midfielder Diego Valeri tallied the game’s opening goal and the Portland Timbers recorded a hard-fought, 1-1 draw against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC, extending their home unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games in a physical match before a sellout crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Saturday night.
With the draw, Portland (9-7-5, 32pts) pushed its unbeaten streak at Providence Park to seven straight games, dating back to a scoreless draw against Vancouver on May 2. The Timbers are 6-1-4 overall at home during the 2015 season and improved their record against Western Conference opponents at Providence Park to 17-2-13 overall since 2013. Additionally, Portland has lost just one home game (8-1-6) in its last 15 games in the Rose City dating back to the 2014 season.
Portland grabbed the lead in the first half as Valeri converted a right-footed effort from close range in the 33rd minute. Forward Fanendo Adi earned the assist, taking a pass from midfielder Diego Chara and dribbling down the middle of the field before laying off a pass to Valeri, who was streaking into the right side of the penalty box. The goal was Valeri’s second of the season and the team-high 23rd of his Timbers MLS career.
The Timbers saw a handful of close chances in the first half, including a left-footed shot from Valeri inside the penalty box that was saved in the 31st minute and a powerful, low volley from distance by midfielder Will Johnson that flashed just wide of the left post in the 15th minute. Additionally, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey made a pivotal, one-on-one kick save in the 16th minute, blocking a shot from Vancouver midfielder Kekuta Manneh. Later in the first half, defender Nat Borchers came up with a crucial goal-line stop, kicking a shot from Manneh off the line after the midfielder was able to dribble around Kwarasey inside the goal box.
Vancouver (10-8-3, 33pts) recorded the game-tying goal in the 57th minute as midfielder Matías Laba took a pass from Manneh, dribbled toward the top of the penalty box from the left flank and delivered a strongly hit shot from distance that landed just inside the far right post. The goal was just the second allowed by the Timbers in their last seven matches at Providence Park and only their seventh conceded in 11 home games this season.
Looking for the late game-winning goal, Timbers midfielder Gastón Fernández saw a right-footed shot from outside the box deflected just over the crossbar in the 85th minute, while Borchers had a shot off a corner kick smothered by Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted just three minutes later.
Next Game
The Timbers take to the road for their next match, traveling to face FC Dallas on Saturday, July 25, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas; kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (Pacific). The match against FC Dallas will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on LaGranD 93.5 FM.
Portland Timbers (9-7-5, 32pts) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10-8-3, 33pts)
July 18, 2015 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 1 1
Portland Timbers 1 0 1
Scoring Summary
POR: Valeri (Adi), 33
VAN: Laba (Manneh), 57
Misconduct Summary
VAN: Parker (Caution), 22
POR: Ridgewell (Caution), 36
POR: Chara (Caution), 47
VAN: Harvey (Ejection), 90+1
POR: Wallace (Caution), 90+2
POR: Johnson(Caution), 90+5
POR: Johnson (Ejection), 90+5
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Kwarasey, D Powell, D Borchers, D Ridgewell, D Villafaña, M Johnson, M Chara, M Asprilla (Wallace, 67), M Valeri, M Nagbe (Fernández, 83), F Adi (Urruti, 76)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Weber, D Paparatto, D Peay, M Jewsbury
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Valeri, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Valeri, 2); FOULS: 12 (Adi, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4
VAN: GK Ousted, D Beitashour, D Parker, D Dean, D Harvey, M Laba, M Koffie, M Rosales (Teibert, 84), M Mezquida (Techera, 67), M Manneh (Froese, 90+1), F Rivero
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tornaghi, D Rodriguez, M Flores, F Hurtado
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Manneh, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Manneh, 4); FOULS: 14 (Rivero, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 2
Watch match highlights:
