TORONTO – The Portland Timbers found a second-half equalizer, but consecutive goals late in the match by Toronto FC handed the Timbers a 3-1 loss at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
The loss snapped the Timbers’ 10-game unbeaten streak – one of the longest unbeaten stretches in the club’s MLS era. Portland hadn’t tasted defeat since May 28.
The Timbers (7-7-12, 33pts) are tied with Nashville SC for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but are just three points from jumping Minnesota United FC in fourth place in a congested conference standings.
Defender Josecarlos Van Rankin scored his first MLS goal to pull the Timbers level in the 73rd minute. With 11 minutes remaining, Toronto FC’s Italian summer signings Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi both scored late to secure the win for the home side.
Goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic recorded an MLS career-best nine saves, highlighting a steady defensive performance by the Timbers for a majority of the contest.
Assisting on Van Rankin's goal, Sebastián Blanco recorded his 50th career MLS assist with the Timbers, becoming just the second player during the club's MLS era to reach the half-century mark in assists.
Saturday’s match was the first meeting between Portland and Toronto FC in three seasons. The last time they played was April 27, 2019 also at BMO Field.
Next Match: The Timbers return to the road as they visit Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 21; kickoff is 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will air live on FS1, with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La GranD 93.5FM.
Scoring Summary
TFC – Osorio (Richie Laryea), 41: Laryea dribbled to the endline before cutting the ball back to Osorio at the top of the six, and Osorio finished first time into the left side of the goal.
POR – Van Rankin (Sebastián Blanco, Yimmi Chara), 73: A build-up by the Timbers down the left side cuts across the field and the passing sequence finds an open Van Rankin on the right side of the box, and Van Ranking calmly finishes.
TFC – Insigne, 79: A chipped pass into the area by Michael Bradley deflects off a Timbers defender and the ball falls to Insigne, who is able to find the go-ahead goal, at 2-1.
TFC – Bernardeschi (Laryea), 85: Laryea squares a pass across the top of the box to Bernardeschi, and Bernardeschi set himself up for a shot on goal.
Notes
- The loss snapped Portland’s 10-match unbeaten streak. It was the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS at the time and was tied for the second-longest unbeaten streak in club history.
- The Timbers suffered their first loss since May 28 against Inter Miami CF.
- Portland has scored in 22 of its 26 matches this season. Only Austin FC (23) has scored goals in more matches.
- The Timbers have scored in their last 12 games, tallying 22 goals in that stretch.
- Portland has scored 42 goals this season, which ranks as the third-most in the Western Conference.Â
- Today’s match was the 11th all-time meeting between Portland and Toronto, with Portland posting a 4-5-2 record against the Eastern opponent.
- Van Rankin scored his first career MLS goal.
- Van Rankin became the eleventh player to score a goal for the Timbers this season.
- Blanco recorded his eighth assist of the season today.
- The assist was the 50th of Blanco’s career with Portland. Blanco is the second player to register 50 career assists with the club in the MLS era along with Diego Valeri.
- Yimmi Chara recorded his team-leading ninth assist.
- Y. Chara and Santiago Moreno are the only players that have appeared in every match for Portland this season (26).
- Additionally, Y. Chara is the only player that’s started every match for the Timbers in 2022.
- Ivacic recorded a career-high nine saves in tonight’s match.
Portland Timbers (7-7-12, 33pts) vs. Toronto FC (8-12-5, 29pts)
Aug. 13, 2022 – BMO Field (Toronto, Ontario.)
Misconduct Summary:
TOR: MacNaughton (caution), 14
TOR: Mavinga (caution), 67
TOR: Osorio (caution), 68
TOR: Bernardeschi (caution), 87
Lineups:
POR: GK Ivacic, D Van Rankin, D Tuiloma, D Zuparic (Mabiala, 87), D Bravo, M D. Chara ©, M Ayala (Williamson, 64), M Moreno, M Blanco (LorĂa, 80), M Y. Chara (Fogaça, 81), F Niezgoda (Asprilla, 64)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bingham, D Bonilla, D McGraw, D Rasmussen, M Paredes
TOTAL SHOTS: 3 (three players tied, 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Y. Chara, Van Rankin, 1); FOULS: 20 (Ayala, D. Chara, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 9
TOR: GK Bono, D Criscito, D Laryea (Marshall-Ruty, 87), D Mavinga, D MacNaughton (O’Neill, 87), M Nelson (Kerr, 81), M Osorio, M Bradley ©, F Insigne, F Jimenez (Akinola, 62), F Bernardeschi
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ranjitsingh, D Henry, M Petrasso, M Thompson, F Achara
TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Insigne, 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 12 (Insigne, 5); FOULS: 11 (Laryea, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 1
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
Fourth Official: Filip Dujic
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
Attendance: 28,598
Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
