Evander Da Silva Ferreira and Jonathan Rodriguez each scored a goal off a set piece and the visiting Portland Timbers defeated Austin FC 2-0 on Wednesday in a Western Conference dustup.
Portland (5-7-4, 19 points) won for the third time in its past four matches and snapped a three-match road losing streak. The Timbers improved to 5-2-1 all-time against Austin and have earned wins in the Texas capital both this year and in 2023.
Austin (6-5-5, 23 points) had a five-match home winning streak snapped. Wednesday’s loss was the first time the Verde didn’t earn a point at home since a season-opening loss to Minnesota United on Feb. 24. Seventeen of Austin’s 23 points this season have been earned on its home pitch.
Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis, in just his fourth start of the season, earned his first clean sheet of the campaign. Pantemis had to make just three saves, though none were bigger than the first of the match.
The Verde had the match’s first scoring chance, as Sebastian Driussi was taken down in the box by Portland’s Diego Chara in the 13th minute. Driussi was awarded a kick from the spot, but his try to the lower right corner in the 16th minute was stopped by Pantemis, who dove to his left to corral the goal attempt and not allow a rebound.
No one scored until Da Silva Ferreira ripped a free kick past Austin keeper Brad Stuver and into the net three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Da Silva Ferreira’s kick came after a foul by Jhojan Valencia and was stuck from 12 yards outside the box before settling into the upper right corner to give the visitors the lead.
The Timbers doubled their advantage in the 66th minute, as Rodriguez converted a penalty kick after Antony Alves Santos was pulled down at the edge of the 6-yard box by Austin’s Brendan Hines-Ike. Hines-Ike had a chance to clear the ball but instead tried to dribble it away from Santos, and then he fouled the Portland forward, setting the table for the penalty kick.
–Field Level Media
