RECAP | Ten-man Timbers fall 3-2 to LAFC on the road

Timbers captain Diego Chara breaks MLS record for most appearances for one club.

LOS ANGELES – A 10-man Portland Timbers side fell 3-2 to LAFC in a hard-fought result at BMO Stadium on Saturday night. Despite conceding twice in the first half, Portland battled back with second-half goals from Jonathan Rodríguez and Santiago Moreno to level the score. However, a late stoppage-time goal from LAFC ultimately secured three points for the home team.

Club Legend Diego Chara

Today’s match marked Diego Chara’s 377th MLS regular-season appearance, setting a new MLS record for most games played for one club in league history. The record was previously held by Chris Wondolowski (376) with the San Jose Earthquakes. Chara also set a new MLS record for most games started for one club in league history (370), surpassing Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando (369). Chara, who is in his 14th MLS season, has recorded 12 goals and 33 assists for the Timbers. His 33 assists rank as third most in team history.

Attacking Threat

Portland has scored 20 goals through 10 matches this season. Notably, the Timbers have scored in nine out of 10 matches this year, and Inter Miami (10), who has played one extra match, is the only team in the league to score in more. The team has scored multiple goals in their last five straight matches and in eight of their 10 matches overall this year. Additionally, Portland has scored multiple goals in five of six road matches this season. Jonathan Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season in tonight’s match, while Santiago Moreno recorded his third goal of the 2024 campaign.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LAFC – Own goal (Kamal Miller), 44th minute: Dénis Bouanga received the ball on the left side of the 18-yard box and immediately delivered it in front of the net. Attempting to block the play, Kamal Miller slid into the area and pushed the ball over the goal line.

LAFC – Timothy Tillman (Cristian Olivera), 45+4 minute: Cristian Olivera dribbled in the penalty area before laying the ball off for Timothy Tillman, who struck a first-time shot from distance to find the inside of the far post and the back of the net.

POR – Jonathan Rodríguez, 65th minute: A deflected cross fell to Jonathan Rodríguez, who collected the ball with his chest and fired a shot between the legs of an LAFC defender to find the lower left corner of the goal.

POR – Santiago Moreno, 73rd minute: An LAFC defender attempted to clear the play from their end, but Santiago Moreno was the first to the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. Moreno took one touch and ricocheted a shot just inside of the post.

LAFC – Dénis Bouanga (Maxime Chanot), 90+2 minute: Off an LAFC corner kick, Kai Kamara put a header on target and Timbers goalkeeper Max Crépeau punched it away. Dénis Bouanga found the loose ball in the box and lasered a first-time shot into the far corner of the net.

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Notes

• Portland has scored 20 goals through 10 matches this season.
• The Timbers have scored multiple goals in their last five straight matches and in eight of their 10 matches overall this year.
• Notably, Portland has scored multiple goals in five of six road matches this season.
• The Timbers have scored in nine out of 10 matches this season. Inter Miami (10), who has played one extra match, is the only team in the league to score in more.
• Jonathan Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season in tonight’s match.
• Santiago Moreno recorded his third goal of the 2024 campaign.
• Today’s match marked Diego Chara’s 377th MLS regular-season appearance, setting a new MLS record for most games played for one club in league history. The record was previously held by Chris Wondolowski (376) with the San Jose Earthquakes.
• Chara also set a new MLS record for most games started for one club in league history (370), surpassing Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando (369).
• Playing 31 minutes in tonight’s match, Dairon Asprilla surpassed 10,000 minutes played in MLS regular season matches.
• Asprilla is the seventh player in club history to surpass 10,000 minutes played.
• Goalkeeper Max Crépeau made eight saves against his former team. It’s the most saves he’s made in an MLS regular season match since the last time he played on the opposing team at BMO Stadium against LAFC, making 10 saves for Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Nov. 2, 2021.
• With their matches against LAFC on April 13, Columbus Crew on April 20, and tonight at LAFC, the Timbers played the two most recent MLS Cup Champions in three consecutive matches. It’s the first time a team has had that stretch of three opponents in MLS play since 2006.

Next Game

The Timbers finish their three-game road trip when they travel to play Charlotte FC on Saturday, May 4. Kickoff is set for 4:30pm PT on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish and local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (2-4-4, 10pts) vs. LAFC (4-3-3, 15pts)

April 27, 2024 – BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Scoring Summary:
LAFC: own goal (K. Miller), 44
LAFC: Tillman (Olivera), 45+4
POR: Rodríguez, 65
POR: Moreno, 73
LAFC: Bouanga (Chanot), 90+2

Misconduct Summary:
POR: bench (caution), 28
LAFC: Bogusz (caution), 48
POR: Bravo (caution), 52
LAFC: Sánchez (caution), 54
POR: Rodríguez (caution), 55
POR: Williamson (caution), 68
POR: Chara (caution), 72
LAFC: Chanot (caution), 75
POR: Chara (caution, ejection), 76
LAFC: Kamara (caution), 89
POR: Eric Miller (caution), 90+6

Lineups:
POR: GK Crépeau, D Bravo, D K. Miller, D Araujo, D Mosquera (E. Miller, 46), M Williamson (Ayala, 83), M Chará, M Moreno, F Antony (Asprilla, 59), F Mora (Paredes, 77), F Rodríguez (McGraw, 83)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, D Mabiala, F Fogaça

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Rodríguez, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Rodríguez, 2); FOULS: 13 (Bravo, Rodríguez, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3, SAVES: 8

LAFC: GK Lloris, D Hollingshead (Campos, 80), D Chanot, D Murillo, D Palencia, M Atuesta, M Sánchez (Kamara, 79), M Tillman, F Bouanga, F Bogusz, F Olivera (Muller, 90+6)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Romero, D Segura, M Duenas, F Angel, F Ordaz

TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Bouanga, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Bouanga, Kamara, 3); FOULS: 17 (Tillman, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 8, SAVES: 2

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Weather: Sunny, 62 degrees
Attendance: 22,032

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.