ORLANDO, Fla. – The Portland Timbers were unable to overcome a two-goal halftime deficit on the road, falling 4-1 to Orlando City SC on Sunday night in front of 31,114 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Opta Chalkboard
- VOTE: Man of the Match
Making their first trip to the Citrus Bowl, the Timbers (1-2-1, 4pts) surrendered a pair of goals in each half, while forward Jack McInerney scored his second goal for the Timbers and the 40th of his MLS career late in the second half.
Next up, the Timbers travel to Carson, Calif., to square off against the LA Galaxy on Sunday, April 10, at the StubHub Center; kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Orlando City (2-0-2, 8pts) opened the scoring in the 13th minute as defender Seb Hines headed a free kick from Kaká into the back of the net. In the 32nd minute, defender Brek Shea doubled the lead, combining down the left side near the edge of the box with Kaká before hitting a swerving shot into the top right corner to put the home side in front 2-0.
Looking to cut into Orlando City’s lead late in the first half, Portland was awarded a penalty kick after Orlando City was whistled for a handball inside the box in the 42nd minute. Forward Fanendo Adi stepped to the spot, placing a low, hard shot towards the left corner of the goal, but Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik dove to his right to make the save. Midfielder Diego Valeri nearly scored just before the halftime break, collecting a bouncing ball inside the box, but his close-range attempt was deflected just wide of the right post.
Orlando City added two more goals in the second half, in the 48th and 76th minutes. Against the run of play, Kaká collected a deflected pass in the box and converted from close range to extend the lead to 3-0. Midfielder Kevin Molino netted Orlando’s final goal, converting a penalty kick in the 76th minute.
Remaining on the attack, McInerney tallied his second goal in the last three games for the Timbers in the 89th minute. Switching the point of attack, defender Jack Barmby, appearing in his first MLS game, played the ball into the box for Valeri, who slotted a pass to McInerney at the right post for the finish in front of goal.
The Timbers created several scoring opportunities in the second half, registering nine shots over the final 45 minutes. Valeri, who recorded a game-high eight shots, tallied two shots on target in the second half, including a powerful, one-time shot from the left side of the box that was saved at the near post and pushed out of bounds for a corner kick in the 66th minute.
Next Sunday’s match against the LA Galaxy will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 with a radio broadcast on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (KXTG) and in Spanish on La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (KGDD).
Portland Timbers (1-2-1, 4pts) at Orlando City SC (2-0-2, 8pts)
April 3, 2016 – Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Orlando City SC 2 2 4
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
Scoring Summary
ORL: Hines (Kaká), 13
ORL: Shea (Kaká), 32
ORL: Kaká, 48
ORL: Molino (penalty kick), 76
POR: McInerney (Valeri), 89
Misconduct Summary
ORL: Shea (Caution), 15
POR: Powell (Caution), 38
POR: Barmby (Caution), 41
ORL: Bendik (Caution), 71
POR: Taylor (Caution), 74
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Kwarasey, D Powell, D Borchers, D Taylor, D Barmby, M Chara, M Valeri ©, M Nagbe, F Asprilla (Mattocks, 58), F Adi (McInerney, 58), F Melano (Grabavoy, 81)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Peay, M Jewsbury, D Valentin
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Valeri, 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Valeri, 2); FOULS: 14 (Valeri, 5); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
ORL: GK Bendik, D Ramos, D Redding (Collin, 46), D Hines, D Shea, M Higuita, M Cerén, M Molino, M Winter, F Larin (Carrasco, 24), F Kaká © (Rivas, 80),
Substitutes Not Used: GK Edwards, D Alston, M Nocerino, F Barry
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Molino, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 12 (Higuita, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Kyle Longville
4th Official: Caleb Mendez
Attendance: 31,114
Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
