Timbers take down Austin FC with 2-1 win in Texas

Felipe Mora tallies goal and assist, Evander also scores for Portland.

AUSTIN, Texas – Felipe Mora tallied a goal and an assist while Evander also provided a goal and the Portland Timbers moved above the playoff line with an important 2-1 victory over Austin FC Sunday night at Q2 Stadium.

The victory extended Portland's unbeaten streak to four matches (3-0-1).

Last Five Form

The Timbers have scored multiple goals in their last five straight matches, tallying 10 total in that span. In that time, Portland has earned a 3-1-1 record, going unbeaten in its last four matches (3-0-1). Notably, Evander and Mora have each recorded three goals and one assist in Portland’s last five matches.

Final Stretch

With tonight’s win, Portland jumped above the playoff line into ninth place of the Western Conference standings. With five matches left in the 2023 campaign, the Timbers will play three of them at home. Facing a quick turnaround, Portland will host the San Jose Earthquakes (7th, 40pts) for a midweek match on Sept. 20 and the Colorado Rapids (14th, 22pts) on Sept. 23. The Timbers will then set out on the road, traveling for matches against the LA Galaxy (13th, 30pts) and Eastern Conference side CF Montréal (8th, 36pts). For its regular season finale, Portland will host the Houston Dynamo (5th, 40pts) at Providence Park on Oct. 21.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – Felipe Mora, 39th minute: Dairon Asprilla dribbled to the right-side endline and delivered a pass to the top of the six-yard box. After deflecting off an Austin FC defender, Felipe Mora fired a quick left-footed shot into the lower-left corner of the goal.

POR – Evander (Felipe Mora, Yimmi Chara), 64th minute: From the left width, Yimmi Chara served a cross to the back post. Felipe Mora chested the ball down for Evander, who finished the play with a one-touch shot inside of the six-yard box. 

ATX – Sebastián Driussi, 75th minute: Sebastián Driussi received the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. He took a shot, forcing a save off Timbers goalkeeper David Bingham, but finished the rebound with a shot into the upper-right corner of the goal.

Up Next

The Portland Timbers return home Wednesday with a quick turnaround to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park on Sept. 20. Kickoff is 7:30pm PT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (TICKETS).

Notes

• With tonight’s win, Portland jumped above the playoff line into ninth place of the Western Conference standings.
• The Timbers are unbeaten in their last four matches (3-0-1), marking their most successful unbeaten run this season. 
• Portland earned its first road win since April 29 at St. Louis CITY SC.
• The Timbers have scored multiple goals in their last five straight matches, tallying 10 in that span.
• The Timbers have a mark of 4-2-1 in seven all-time regular season matchups against Austin FC. 
• Portland is unbeaten against Austin in its last five straight matchups (4-0-1), outscoring them 10-4 in that stretch.
• Evander registered his team-leading eighth goal of the 2023 campaign. 
• It also marked Evander’s 10th goal across all competitions for Portland this year. 
• Felipe Mora recorded a goal and an assist in tonight’s match.
• It marked Mora’s first assist and third goal of this season. 
• Evander and Mora have each recorded three goals and one assist in Portland’s last five matches. 
• Yimmi Chara registered his fourth assist of the 2023 campaign. 
• Y. Chara has tallied assists in back-to-back matches.

Portland Timbers (9-11-9, 36pts) at Austin FC (9-13-6, 33pts)
Sept. 17, 2023 – Q2 Stadium (Austin, Texas)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Mora, 39
POR: Evander (Mora, Y. Chara), 64
ATX: Driussi, 75

Misconduct Summary:
ATX: Wolff (caution), 57
ATX: Cascante (caution), 61
POR: Antony (caution), 97

Lineups:
POR: GK Bingham, D Bravo, D Zuparic, D McGraw, D Miller (Mosquera, 80), M Moreno (Antony, 90), M Evander (Mabiala, 90), M Paredes, F Asprilla, F Y. Chará (Acosta, 71), F Mora (Boli, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Araujo, M Blanco, M Loría

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Evander, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Evander, 2); FOULS: 13 (Asprilla, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5, SAVES: 4

ATX: GK Stuver, D Gallagher, D Väisänen, D Cascante, D Lima, M Pereira, M Wolff (Finlay, 69), M Ring, F Driussi, F Zardes (Bruin, 69, Fodrey, 86), F Rigoni

Substitutes Not Used: GK Las, D Jimenez, M Valencia, M Craig, M Rodriguez, F Urruti

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Driussi, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Driussi, 4); FOULS: 10 (three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Swartzel, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Elton Garcia
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Weather: Clear, 92 degrees
Attendance: 20,738

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial