Photo Courtesy Portland Timbers FC
The unbeaten run continues for the Portland Timbers with another impressive performance accompanied by a goal fest and stunning Real Salt Lake at Providence Park on Saturday. Amongst the highlights of this match were the Chara brothers’ one-two combinations and delivering the game’s fourth goal from the eldest Chara, Diego.
They say defense wins games and lately these Timbers have shown to be very stingy recently. Talking about heroics, it will go to goalkeeper Steve Clark making a whopping eight saves and preventing a goal in the 64th minute.
Call it determination after that opportune goal from RSL’s Damir Kreilach before the end of the first half cutting the Timbers’ lead to just a goal.
As many thought, that the visitors were going to come out strong after halftime, somehow this theory was unfounded as the Claret and Cobalt suddenly saw a defensive meltdown opening the door for Portland to score a season high of four goals in the second half.
First, let’s go to the first couple goals from the Timbers with Felipe Mora getting assists from Diego Chara and Sebastian Blanco to open the scoring in the 27th minute. Nine minutes later, Dairon Aspirilla doubled the lead for the home side and scored his career-high seventh goal of the season.
When the second half started, it was Yimmi Chara’s turn to shine and come out of his scoring slump with another assist from Sebastian Blanco to give the Timbers a commanding 3-1 lead.
There was no stopping the Timbers with the counterattack as Yimmi Chara raced to the opposite side of the field and found a wide-open Diego and the veteran just pushed the ball to put the match beyond doubt and extend the lead to 4-1.
However, this wasn’t the end of this goal-fest as Jaroslaw Niezgoda made it 5-1 with an assist from Santiago Moreno. For Niezgoda, it was his first goal of the season after missing most of last season with an ACL injury.
Cristian Paredes would conclude the scoring after receiving a pass from Claudio Bravo in the 88th minute.
Saturday’s match saw Portland’s unbeaten run extend to six with both the offense and defense looking dynamic. If the Timbers continue this run all the way into the postseason, this team could actually be considered one of the favorites to reach the finals.
Goals
Felipe Mora 27’ PTFC, Dairon Aspirilla 36’ PTFC, Damir Kreilach 41’ RSL, Yimmi Chara 48’ PTFC, Diego Chara 68’ PTFC, Jaroslaw Niezgoda 85’, Cristhian Paredes 88’ PTFC
Man of the Match
Steve Clark
Next Match
LAFC September 29, 2021, KO 7:30 PM Banc of California Stadium
Photo Courtesy Portland Timbers FC
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
