TUCSON, Ariz. – The Portland Timbers opened their 2015 preseason schedule on Saturday night with a 2-0 shutout win against Sporting Kansas City at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. Forward Gastón Fernández tallied a penalty kick in the first half and midfielder Michael Nanchoff netted a goal off a curling free kick in the second half to help Portland to the win.
In the first of three preseason matches during a two-week stay in southern Arizona, Timbers head coach Caleb Porter utilized two separate lineups of 11 players in each half of the match, allowing 22 different players to see action in the team’s preseason opener against Sporting KC (0-1-0 in preseason). Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, defenders Nat Borchers, Jeanderson and midfielder/forward Dairon Asprilla each saw their first game action with the club, as did 2015 MLS SuperDraft picks midfielder Nick Besler and defender Anthony Manning.
In the 30th minute, Fernández drew a penalty kick for the Timbers to help vault Portland into the lead. Dribbling through a crowd of defenders, Fernández saw his initial shot from the top of the box blocked, a rebound from forward Fanendo Adi was blocked before a third effort from Fernández struck the arm of a Sporting KC defender inside the penalty box. Fernández converted the spot kick to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead.
Doubling Portland’s lead in the second half, Nanchoff hit a bending, left-footed free kick from just outside the box that glanced off the inside of the left post and found the back of the net in the 53rd minute.
The Timbers (1-0-0 in preseason) did well to contain the Sporting KC attack throughout the match, yielding relatively few scoring chances in the shutout.
The Timbers play the Houston Dynamo in their next preseason match Saturday, Feb. 7, at Kino Sports Complex at 6 p.m. (Pacific).
Notes:
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Utilizing different lineups for each half, 22 different players saw action Saturday for Portland against Sporting Kansas City.
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Saturday’s match marked the second consecutive year Portland has opened its preseason schedule against Sporting Kansas City in Tucson.
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Several players saw their first action with the Timbers on Saturday, including goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, defenders Nat Borchers and Jeanderson, midfielder/forward Dairon Asprilla and 2015 MLS SuperDraft picks Nick Besler and Anthony Manning.
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Both teams opened their preseason slate on Saturday and the match was the fourth time Portland and Sporting KC have met in preseason play since 2011.
- The Timbers have registered four consecutive shutouts in preseason matches played in Tucson, dating back to Feb. 5, 2014.
Next Game
The Timbers play the Houston Dynamo in their next preseason match Saturday, Feb. 7, at Kino Sports Complex at 6 p.m. (Pacific).
Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City (MLS Preseason)
Jan. 31, 2015 – Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0
Portland Timbers 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Fernández (penalty kick), 30
POR: Nanchoff, 53
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Villafaña (caution), 22
SKC: Otero (caution), 40
Lineups:
First Half:
POR: GK Adam Kwarasey, D Alvas Powell, D Nat Borchers, D Norberto Paparatto, D Jorge Villafaña, M Darlington Nagbe, M Diego Chara, M Ben Zemanski, M Rodney Wallace, F Gastón Fernández, F Fanendo Adi
Second Half:
POR: GK Jake Gleeson, D Taylor Peay, D Anthony Manning^, D Danny O’Rourke, D Jeanderson, M George Fochive, M Jack Jewsbury, M Nick Besler^, F Dairon Asprilla, F Maximiliano Urruti, F Michael Nanchoff
SKC: GK Luis Marin (Tim Melia, 46); D Kevin Ellis (Christian Duke, 60), D Jalil Anibaba (James Marcelin, 30, Erik Palmer-Brown, 60), D Brent Griffiths* (Daniel Rodriguez, 60), D Seth Sinovic (Amadou Dia^, 17); M Paulo Nagamura (Santiago Otero, 30, Jorge Claros, 60), M Servando Carrasco (Mikey Lopez, 30, Felipe Hernandez, 60), M Benny Feilhaber (Jimmy Medranda, 30, Tony Rocha^, 60); F Krisztian Nemeth (Alex Dixon, 30), F Dom Dwyer (Jacob Peterson, 30, James Rogers^, 60), F Bernardo Anor (Connor Hallisey^, 30)
* Trialist/guest player; ^ 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick; * Academy player
