Asprilla, Moreno goals pace Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers and D.C. United played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at Providence Park. Dairon Asprilla opened the scoring in the first half to give the Timbers an early lead before Santiago Moreno scored a second-half goal. In a ten-minute span, D.C. United came back to score two goals and equalize the match.
Goalscorers and Playmakers
Dairon Asprilla and Santiago Moreno scored their first goals of the season tonight. It was Asprilla’s 33rd goal with the Timbers and Moreno’s 11th. Asprilla has scored a goal in nine of his 10 seasons with Portland, tying Diego Valeri for the most seasons with a goal scored by any player in club history. Notably, Asprilla ranks fourth in goals scored all time for the club trailing Valeri (86), Fanendo Adi (54) and Sebastian Blanco (41). Moreno tallied his first assist of the season tonight and his 22nd with Portland. Playing his fourth season, Moreno ranks sixth best in assists in club history. It marked the sixth time Moreno has recorded multiple goal contributions in a single match for the Timbers. Eric Miller tallied his first assist of the season and the second of his career with the Timbers.
Tonight’s Firsts
With tonight’s result, the Timbers have started the season with multiple goals scored in consecutive matches for the first time in club history. Through two matches this season, Portland has tallied six goals from four different players (Antony, Asprilla, Moreno, Eryk Williamson). Max Crépeau made his first appearance (first start) for the Green and Gold tonight. Miguel Araujo made his first appearance of the season and his fourth overall with the Timbers.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Dairon Asprilla (Santiago Moreno), 18th minute: On a breakaway run, Moreno dribbled from the midfield and into the right side of the 18-yard box before passing the ball to Asprilla. Asprilla, standing near the penalty kick spot, fired a right-footed ball into the middle of the goal.
POR – Santiago Moreno (Eric Miller), 61st minute: Eric Miller lobbed a ball into the 18-yard box from the left side of the field to find Moreno, who finished the play with a right-footed shot into the lower right-corner of the goal.
DC – Mateusz Klich (penalty kick), 72nd minute: Portland conceded a hand ball in the box. Mateusz Klich converted the penalty kick.
DC – Kristian Fletcher (Aaron Herrera), 82nd minute: Aaron Herrera ran through the right side of the box and crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where Kristian Fletcher finished the play with a left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal.
Notes
- Portland is 1-0-1 when playing at Providence Park this season.
- With tonight’s result, the Timbers have started the season with multiple goals scored in consecutive matches for the first time in club history.
- Through two matches this season, Portland has tallied six goals from four different players (Antony, Asprilla, Moreno, Eryk Williamson).
- Asprilla and Moreno scored their first goals of the season tonight.
- It marked Asprilla’s 33rd career goal with the Timbers.
- Asprilla has scored a goal in nine of his 10 seasons with Portland, tying Diego Valeri for the most seasons with a goal scored by any player in club history.
- Asprilla ranks fourth in goals scored for the club trailing Valeri (86), Fanendo Adi (54) and Sebastian Blanco (41).
- Moreno registered his 11th career goal with the Timbers.
- Moreno also tallied his first assist of the season tonight and his 22nd overall with Portland.
- Playing his fourth season with Portland, Moreno ranks sixth best in assists in club history.
- It was the sixth time Moreno recorded multiple goal contributions in a single match.
- Eric Miller tallied his first assist of the season and second overall for the Timbers.
- Max Crépeau made his first appearance (first start) for the Green and Gold tonight.
- Crépeau recorded six saves in the match.
- With tonight’s appearance, Diego Chara tied Nick Rimando for second most games played all time with one club (369).
- Miguel Araujo made his first appearance of the season and his fourth with the Timbers.
Matchcenter
Next Match
The Timbers take to the road next week for their first away match of 2024 when they travel to face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Mar. 9. Kickoff is set for 11am PT and will stream on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (1-0-1, 4pts) vs. D.C. United (1-0-1, 4pts)
March 2, 2024 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Scoring Summary:
POR: Asprilla (Moreno), 18
POR: Moreno (E. Miller), 61
DC: Klich (penalty kick), 72
DC: Fletcher (Herrera), 82
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Chara (caution), 7
POR: Crépeau (caution), 59
DC: Klich (caution), 62
POR: McGraw (caution), 68
DC: Herrera (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
POR: GK Crépeau, D Mosquera (Araujo, 85), D McGraw, D K. Miller, D E. Miller (Zuparic, 65), M Chara ©, M Williamson (Ayala, 65), M Paredes, F Antony (Fogaça, 81), F Asprilla, F Moreno
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, F Ikoba
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Antony, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Antony, 2); FOULS: 11 (three players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4, SAVES: 2
DC: GK Bono, D Bartlett, D Peltola, D Santos ©, D Herrera, D McVey, M Stroud (Hopkins, 73), M Pirani (Fletcher, 72), M DiPetro, M Klich, F Dájome
Substitutes Not Used: GK Zamudio, D Antley, D Akinmboni, M Rodriguez, F Murrell
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Bassett, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (six players tied, 2); FOULS: 16 (Bassett, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
Referee: Trevor Wiseman
Assistant Referees: Wale Animashaun, Kristin Patterson
Fourth Official: Gabriel Ciampi
VAR: Joe Fletcher
Weather: Cloudy, 41 degrees
Attendance: 20,221
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
