WASHINGTON, D.C. – Playing the first game of a two-match road swing, the Portland Timbers were unable to overcome two first-half goals, falling 2-0 to D.C. United before 16,298 fans at RFK Stadium on Saturday night.
- VOTE: Man of the Match
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
The loss snapped the Timbers’ five-game unbeaten run against United, marking Portland’s first loss at RFK Stadium in its six MLS seasons.
D.C. United (6-8-9, 27pts) took the lead in the seventh minute from a corner kick when midfielder Lloyd Sam’s delivery found its way to defender Steve Birnbaum, whose right-footed shot snuck into the lower left corner of the net. United doubled its lead in the 29th minute when midfielder Luciano Acosta slotted the ball into the back of the net from inside the box to record his second goal of the season.
The Timbers (8-9-8, 32pts) created a number of scoring opportunities in both halves, including forward Fanendo Adi’s header from Jack McInerney’s cross in the 23rd minute, which went just high of the target. Three minutes later, midfielder Darlington Nagbe slipped McInerney in behind the United defense, creating a one-on-one chance for McInerney, whose final effort was tipped off the crossbar by goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
The Timbers continued to press forward on the attack in the second half, with midfielder Diego Valeri firing a shot just high of the crossbar in the 64th minute after combining with McInerney on the edge of the box. Remaining aggressive in the final third, Portland came close to breaking through on the counter attack in the 71st minute when McInerney was released in to space by Valeri, striking a right-footed attempt from the left side of the box that was parried away by Hamid.
Five minutes later, second-half substitute Jack Barmby curled a well-struck free kick from distance up and over the wall, hitting the top right corner of the post, while Adi forced another difficult save from Hamid in the 90th minute of play.
Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson recorded six saves in the match, including a finger-tip save on Patrick Mullins’ attempt in the 32nd minute and a lunging save in the 60th minute.
Next up, Portland will travel to CenturyLink Field on Sunday, Aug. 21, when they take on Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC; kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcasted live on FS1 with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (8-9-8, 32pts) vs. D.C. United (6-8-9, 27pts)
Aug. 13, 2016 – RFK Stadium (Washington, D.C.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 0 0
D.C. United 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
DCU: Birnbaum (Boswell, Sam), 7
DCU: Acosta (Sam), 29
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Ridgewell (Caution), 50
DCU: Boswell (Caution), 56
POR: Jewsbury (Caution), 57
DCU: Franklin (Caution), 75
POR: Vytas (Caution), 83
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Powell, D. J. Taylor, D Ridgewell ©, D Vytas, M Valeri, M Nagbe, M Jewsbury, M Melano (Barmby, 62), F Adi, F McInerney (Grabavoy, 73)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Konopka, D Klute, D Okugo, D Peay, F Brett
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Two players tied, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (McInerney, 2); FOULS: 10 (Two players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 6
DCU: GK Hamid, D Kemp, D Boswell ©, D Birnbaum, D Franklin, M Marcelo, M Nyarko (DeLeon, 56), M Acosta, M Jeffrey, M Sam (Neagle, 72), F Mullins (Saborio, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Worra, D Opare, M Vincent, F Igboananike
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Mullins, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Two players tied, 3); FOULS: 15 (Franklin, 3); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Jason White
4th Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 16,298
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 93 Degrees
