Portland outshoots Houston 18-9 but suffers first loss of 2024 season
HOUSTON – Playing a hard-fought match in their second straight contest on the road, The Portland Timbers lost 1-0 to Houston Dynamo FC Saturday evening at Shell Energy Stadium.
MATCHCENTER
Match Metrics
Tonight marked the first time the Timbers have outshot their opponent this season (17-9). Seventeen shots are a match-best for Portland this year. Santiago Moreno tallied a game-high four shots, which is also a single-game best for the Timbers this season. Evander recorded a match-high four chances created tonight. In his first start of the 2024 season, Dario Zuparic led both teams in duels won (9) and aerial duels won (4).Â
Goal-Scoring Plays
HOU – Ibrahim Aliyu, 43rd minute: Houston served a cross into the penalty spot. Ibrahim Aliyu pounced on a loose deflection and finished the ball into the back of the net.
Notes
- Portland is 2-1-1 (7 pts) through the first four matches this season, playing two home matches (1-0-1) and two away matches (1-1-0).Â
- Tonight’s result snapped a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1).
- Portland was shutout tonight after scoring multiple goals in its first three matches of the season, tallying eight in that span.Â
- The Timbers outshot their opponent for the first time this season, 16-9.
- Sixteen shots marks a season high for Portland this year.Â
- Santiago Moreno tallied four shots in the match, a single-game best for the Timbers this season.Â
- Evander recorded a match-high four chances created tonight.Â
- Dario Zuparic earned his first start of the 2024 MLS season.Â
- Zuparic led both teams in duels won (9) and aerial duels won (4).
Up Next
The Portland Timbers return to Providence Park next Saturday when they host the Philadelphia Union on March 23. Kickoff is 7:30pm PT (TICKETS, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Portland Timbers (2-1-1, 7pts) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (1-1-1, 4pts)
March 16, 2024 – Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Aliyu, 43
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Dorsey (caution), 52
POR: Zuparic (caution), 57
POR: K. Miller (caution), 64
HOU: Kowalczyk (caution), 70
HOU: Artur (caution), 80
Lineups:
POR: GK Crépeau, D Mosquera, D Zuparic (Araujo, 87), D K. Miller, D E. Miller (Ayala, 87), M Chara ©, M Paredes (Williamson, 65), M Evander, F Antony, F Asprilla (Fogaça, 76), F Moreno
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pantemis, D Mabiala, D McGraw
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Moreno, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (four players tied, 1); FOULS: 11 (Chara, Paredes, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4, SAVES: 2
HOU: GK Clark, D Escobar, D Micael, D Bartlow, D Dorsey, M Artur, M Gregus, M Aliyu (Smith, 83), F Bassi (Raines, 93), F Carrasquilla, F Kowalczyk (Segal, 76)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tarbell, D Steres, D Schmitt, M Blessing, M Sylla
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Aliyu, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 16 (Dorsey, Artur, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3, SAVES: 4
Referee: Erick Lezama Pavon
Assistant Referees: Sergio Santana, Leonardo Sanchez Cordero
Fourth Official: Victor Borges
VAR: Sandro Ricci
Weather: Cloudy, 71 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.