Jeremy Ebobisse scores first career brace
It was a great match with 25,218 fans cheering in the stadium — and Portland’s Sebastián Blanco tallied his 11th assist of 2019 season. The MLS recorded another draw, showing competitive and balanced the league has become.
- Jeremy Ebobisse notched the first brace of his MLS career in the match. Ebobisse is the 17th Timbers player to record a brace in an MLS match – and, Ebobisse’s 11 goals are the most ever by a Timbers MLS draft pick.
- The Timbers are one of three Western Conference teams this season with multiple double-digit goal-scorers.
- Sebastián Blanco delivered his 11th assist of the season, matching his season total from 2018.
The Portland Timbers received a second-half brace from Jeremy Ebobbise, earning a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution at Providence Park on Wednesday night.
With the draw, Portland moved into playoff position in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with two matches remaining on its regular-season schedule. Wednesday’s match marked the 10th consecutive home match for the Timbers – the longest homestand in MLS history
MLS Playoff Position
The Timbers (13-13-6, 45pts) moved up to sixth place in the Western Conference standings. Portland occupies the sixth spot in the standings as a result of the tiebreakers with FC Dallas, which currently sits in seventh place. The Timbers are currently two points behind Real Salt Lake (47pts) in fifth place and trail Seattle Sounders FC (50pts) in fourth place by five points.
It was a controversial match.
After the game, Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese said, “I think we deserved it today. Played very well. Created chances. Put the ball in the back of the net. I thought that we did things right.”
“We deserved
Giovanni Savarese – Portland Timbers head coachthe three points. I think these three points were stolen from us.”
“We know that we have a lot against us,” said Savarese. “Very happy about the Timbers Army today. It was fantastic the support, the energy. That’s what we need. Looks like they went through the spirit of our players because the guys were able to play a great match.”
On the controversial
Just saw it right now; it’s exactly the same. Why one is a PK and the other one no?
Giovanni Savarese – Portland Timbers head coach
New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena agreed in spirit with Savarese on the match, with the exception on the VAR call.
“I think tonight was a really good game. Both teams played well, the game was fast, we created chances,” said Arena. “I was a little disappointed in the goals we conceded but they came at us pretty hard man. Our players never quit and coming in at the end, was really incredible and as frustrated as our opponents are with the penalty kick at the end, it was a penalty kick.”
“That’s one of the times that I would say VAR did its job the right way. And in all fairness to the referee, I know he took a lot of abuse at the end of the game but he did his job correctly.”
Bruce Arena – New England Revolution head coach
Portland Timbers’ Ebobisse Goals
Ebobisse increased his season total to 11 goals, recording the first brace of his MLS career. His 11 goals are tied for the team lead this season. With the brace, he became the 17th different Timbers player to record a brace in an MLS match. Notably, the Timbers are one of three Western Conference teams this season with multiple double-digit goal-scorers.
Blanco assists
Sebastián Blanco delivered his 11th assist of the season, equaling his output from the 2018 season.
Blanco is the fourth Timbers player across all eras to have multiple seasons with 11 or more assists, joining Diego Valeri, Willie Anderson
Portland Timbers vs New England Revolution Key plays
In the 22nd minute, Diego Chara won the ball near midfield and played the ball into space for Valeri running down the right side of the field. Valeri dribbled into the box and fired a shot that went just wide of the right post.
Jorge Moreira came up with a key block in the 26th minute. New England’s Carles Gil was able to connect with a cross near the edge of the six-yard box, but Moreira got a touch to push the ball wide. One minute later, the Revolution’s Gustavo Bou lined up a free kick from the top of the box on the left side. Bou attempted to curl the ball around the Timbers wall, but the ball took a deflection, forcing Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark to dive back to his left to get a touch and push the ball wide of the target.
Blanco unleashed a long-range strike in the 35th minute, sending a left-footed shot toward the right corner of the goal, but Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton made a diving stop moving to his left at full extension.
The Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute. Jorge Villafaña dribbled down the left side of the field and played a pinpoint cross to center of the box for Ebobisse, who deposited a diving header into the back of the net.
Off a short corner kick in the 57th minute, Valeri served the ball to Blanco making a run to the right post. Blanco sent a looping header toward the near post that was saved by Knighton.
Clark was called into action in the 80th minute when Scott Caldwell hit a dipping volley from distance, but Clark jumped and tipped the ball over the crossbar.
The Timbers doubled their lead in the 82nd minute as Ebobisse recorded his second goal of the match. Blanco crossed the ball from the left side to the near post. Ebobisse dove forward and directed the ball with a quick flick off the back of his foot into the net from close range.
New England pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 87th minute. Teal Bunbury received a pass running to the edge of the box and slotted a cross to the six-yard back for Bou, who finished near the left post.
New England was awarded a penalty kick in the 97th minute after the video assistant referee (VAR) was used to determine the Timbers committed a foul in the box. Gil stepped to the spot and converted the penalty kick to level the match at 2-2.
Next game
Up next, The Timbers travel to Children’s Mercy Park to face Sporting Kansas City in their final road match of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 29. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match features a regional television broadcast on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish)
PORTLAND TIMBERS: GK Clark, D Moreira, D Mabiala, D Tuiloma, D Villafaña, M Polo, M Chara, M Paredes, M Valeri © (Dielna, 90+1), M Blanco (Loría, 85), F Ebobisse (Williamson, 90+1)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Valentin, M Zambrano, M Conechny
TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Blanco, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Ebobisse, 3); FOULS: 11 (Chara, 4); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 5
NEW ENGLAND: GK Knighton, D Bye, D Farrell, D Mancienne, D Anibaba, M Gil ©, M Agudelo (Penilla, 64), M Caldwell, M Fagundez (Zahibo, 80), F Caicedo (Bunbury, 69), F Bou
Substitutes Not Used: GK Turner, D Delamea, M Jones, F Buchanan
