PRESEASON RECAP | Portland Timbers 1, Houston Dynamo 1

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Portland Timbers remained unbeaten in the 2015 preseason, earning a 1-1 draw after scoring a second-half equalizer on Saturday night against the Houston Dynamo at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.

The Timbers utilized two separate lineups of 11 players over three 30-minute periods, allowing 22 different players to see action. The starting group from the preseason opener played 60 minutes, while the second group played the final 30 minutes. In the second of three matches during Portland’s preseason trip to Arizona, trialist Omar Cummings played the last 30 minutes, tallying Portland’s goal in the 69th minute in his preseason debut.

Midfielder Leonel Miranda put Houston (1-0-1 preseason) in front 1-0, scoring on the counter attack in the 48thminute. Miranda dribbled down the right side on the breakaway before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box into the top right corner.

Playing with a man advantage for the final 34 minutes after Houston forward Jason Johnson was shown a red card, Portland recorded the equalizer in the 69th minute as Cummings, who played with the Dynamo during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, pounced on a loose ball in the box and finished with a shot into the bottom right corner.

Saturday’s match was the fourth meeting all-time between Portland and Houston in the preseason, while the Timbers are now unbeaten in their last eight preseason matches (5-0-3) at the Kino Sports Complex.

The Timbers (1-0-1 preseason) return to training on Monday and will conclude their slate of games in Tucson against the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Kino Sports Complex at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific) before returning to Portland on Wednesday.

Notes:

• Utilizing two different lineups during the match, 22 different players saw action Saturday for Portland against Houston.
• Saturday’s match marked the fourth time the Timbers and Dynamo have met in a preseason match.
• The Timbers are unbeaten in their last eight preseason matches at Kino Sports Complex (5-0-3).

Next Game

The Timbers play the San Jose Earthquakes in their next preseason match Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Kino Sports Complex at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific).

Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS Preseason)
Feb. 7, 2015 – Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)
Match composed of three, 30-minute periods

First 60:
POR: GK Adam Kwarasey, D Alvas Powell, D Nat Borchers (c), D Norberto Paparatto, D Jorge Villafaña, M Darlington Nagbe, M Diego Chara, M Ben Zemanski, M Rodney Wallace, F Gastón Fernández, F Fanendo Adi

Last 30:
POR: GK Andrew Weber, D George Fochive, D Taylor Peay, D Danny O’Rourke, D Jeanderson, M Dairon Asprilla, M Jack Jewsbury (c), M Nick Besler^, M Michael Nanchoff, F Omar Cummings, F Maximiliano Urruti

HOU: GK Tyler Deric (Joe Willis, 60), D Kofi Sarkodie (Taylor Hunter^, 60), D Raúl Rodríguez (David Horst, 60), D Jermaine Taylor (AJ Cochran, 60), D DeMarcus Beasley (Corey Ashe, 60), M Leonel Miranda (George Malki, 67), M Ricardo Clark (Memo Rodriguez, 81), M Zach Steinberger^ (Nathan Sturgis, 43), M Brad Davis (c) (Chandler Hoffman, 60), F Giles Barnes (Rob Lovejoy^, 35), F Will Bruin (Jason Johnson, 55)

* Trialist/guest player; ^ 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick