A share of spoils in Music City after the Portland Timbers stage a brilliant comeback

Photo Credit USA TODAY/ Portland Timbers

The Portland Timbers’ turnaround continues and today they proved it with a late rally in the second half despite being down on the scoreboard by 2-0. In the first half, Nashville’s Sean Davis ended his scoring drought with a 20-yard beauty in the 19 minutes.

In the second half, Hany Mukhtar doubled the lead for Nashville in the 57th minute to extend the lead and score what could have been the insurance goal for the locals after going with the lead into halftime.

So far, Nashville SC hasn’t been able to find its confidence in its new venue by putting a not-so-impressive record so far. Despite showing great attendance overall, the team is lacking confidence.

Somehow the Portland Timbers showed off some resilience and today they proved it with a come-from-behind draw after being down to goals, as well as taking advantage of the locals’ lack of adaptability in its new stadium.

Despite having some close opportunities to score by Claudio Bravo twice in the first half, come halftime the Timbers were down by a goal, but with the prospects of possibly making a strong comeback.

However, come the second half in the 57th minute, Hany Mukhtar doubled the lead for the locals with a nice header goal and scored the cushion goal for Nashville as the team only needed to step up its game and dominate defensively against the visiting Timbers.

That didn’t deter the Timbers to start their impossible task of making a strong stand against Nashville SC, when Jaroslaw Niezgoda took advantage of a bad pass from keeper Panicco. He was able to draw the foul inside the area for a penalty.

Then came the turn for Dairon Aspirilla making a start and beating the likes of Nashville’s keeper Panicco to reduce the local’s lead to just one goal with a nice, executed kick in the 64th minute.

Before that Aspirilla missed a would-be goal in the 66th minute with a low shot that deflected inches from the left post, that’s when Eryk Williamson came as a substitute in the second half for Yimmi Chara and started the second goal play.

As Williamson started the play in the middle, he found a wide-open Jaroslaw Niezgoda to find the upper corner of the net in the 69th minute and leave the score at 2-2 in the end.

For Jaroslaw Niezgoda, this was his sixth goal of the season for Eryk Williamson his fifth assist as for Dairon Aspirilla he scored his sixth career penalty kick converting in all his six attempts, today’s performance sends a message to Seattle.

Goals

Sean Davis 19’ NSH, Hany Mukhtar 57’ NSH, Dairon Aspirilla 64’ PK PTFC, Jaroslaw Niezgoda 69’ PTFC

Men of the Match

Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Dairon Aspirilla, Eryk Williamson

Next match

July 9, 2022, Cascadia Derby at Seattle Sounders, Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington