3 – 1
“Kristoffer Velde breaks the deadlock for Portland with a finish assisted by Cole Bassett, against the run of play after San Diego had already enjoyed significant early possession.”
Pivotal“Gabriel Pirani levels for San Diego right on the stroke of half-time, cancelling out Portland's lead after a spell of sustained pressure that included blocked shots and near-misses from multiple San Diego attackers.”
Pivotal“Ariel Lassiter, who had been walking a disciplinary tightrope after his first-half booking, restores Portland's lead with a composed left-footed finish assisted by Jimer Fory, turning the game decisively back in the Timbers' favour just six minutes into the second half.”
Pivotal“David Da Costa puts the result to bed on 68 minutes, converting after sustained Portland pressure from a series of corners to make it 3-1 and effectively end San Diego's hopes of a comeback.”
Pivotal
Portland Timbers
San Diego
Outstanding performance
Portland Timbers•MidfielderPortland Timbers pulled off a thoroughly against-the-run-of-play victory, winning 3-1 despite San Diego controlling 70% of possession and generating 88 dangerous attacks to Portland's 21. The Timbers were ruthlessly efficient, converting three of their five shots on target while San Diego squandered a dominant performance that included 21 shots and seven corners. Kristoffer Velde broke the deadlock in the 29th minute through a Cole Bassett assist, but San Diego responded almost immediately before the break through Gabriel Pirani, who had earlier been unlucky with a first-half effort. The second half told the real story — Ariel Lassiter, who had been booked in the first half, prodded Portland back in front from a Jimer Fory assist on 51 minutes, and David Da Costa put the result beyond doubt on 68 minutes as Portland's clinical counter-attacking approach punished a San Diego side that created more than enough chances to win the match twice over. For San Diego, this is a damaging result that will raise serious questions about their ability to convert territorial dominance into goals; for Portland, the three points are a statement in efficiency that defies the statistics entirely.
How entertaining was this match?
Lewis Morgan takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Oscar VerhoevenYellow CardYellow card shown to Oscar Verhoeven.
Alejandro Alvarado Jr. takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Diego Ferney Chara Zamora comes on for David Pereira Da Costa.
Shot by Mohamed Elias Achouri with his right foot, but it misses the target.
Gabriel Pirani takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Shot from Mohamed Elias Achouri with his right foot is blocked.
Ariel Lassiter takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Shot by Oscar Verhoeven with his right foot is saved.
Amahl Pellegrino comes on for Marcus Ingvartsen.
Julio Ortiz comes on for Cole Bassett.
Luca Bombino is on, and Kieran Sargeant is off.
Julio Ortiz comes on for Cole Bassett.
Antony Alves Santos comes on for Kristoffer Velde.
Alejandro Alvarado Jr. takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
David Da CostaDavid Pereira Da Costa takes a right-footed shot and scores.
assist: Kristoffer Velde
Goal! The score is now 3-1.
Manu Duah takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Eric Miller replaces Brandon Bye.
Mohamed Elias Achouri comes on for Alex Mighten.
On Alejandro Alvarado Jr, off Onni Valakari.
Ariel Lassiter takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Kevin Kelsy takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Cole Bassett takes a left-footed shot that hits the post.
assist: Jimer Fory
Goal! Ariel Lassiter scores to make it 2-1, assisted by Jimer Fory.
Ariel LassiterAriel Lassiter scores with a left-footed shot.
Corner awarded.
Gabriel Pirani's right-footed shot is saved.
Kristoffer Velde takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gabriel PiraniGabriel Pirani scores with a right-footed shot.
First half ends with the score at 1-1.
assist: Lewis Morgan
Goal! The score is now 1-1.
Gabriel Pirani takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Jeppe Tverskov takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Marcus Ingvartsen takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Kevin Kelsy takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kristoffer VeldeKristoffer Velde scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Cole Bassett
Goal! Kristoffer Velde scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Cole Bassett.
Goal! The score is now 1-0.
Offside.
Offside.
David Pereira Da Costa takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Yellow card issued.
Gabriel Pirani takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Lewis Morgan takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Lewis Morgan takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kevin Kelsy attempts a header but misses the shot.
Gabriel Pirani takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Offside.
Kick-off! The referee is Rubiel Vazquez.
Portland and San Diego meet at Providence Park in a pivotal Western Conference clash with both sides locked on 24 points — but the visitors arrive riding a three-game winning streak while the Timbers are still stinging from a 2-1 defeat at Chicago. New Timbers boss Martí Cifuentes needs a home performance to steady the ship, while San Diego FC will fancy their chances of leapfrogging their rivals in the standings.
