PORTLAND, Ore. – Powered by a pretty first half goal from midfielder Diego Valeri, the Portland Timbers won their first game of the 2020 season with a 1-0 victory over visiting Nashville SC Sunday afternoon at Providence Park.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark made four saves and the Portland defense faced 14 shots to earn the first Timbers clean sheet of the year.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
12' - GOAL (POR) - The Timbers went out to a 1-0 lead in the first half after a period of sustained pressure in the Nashville attacking third. After the visitors' headed clearance only went as far as the edge of the 18-yard box, Andy Polo headed it down to an open Diego Valeri who pirouetted and fired the ball into the far side of the net.
24' - CHANCE (POR) - As the Timbers pressed forward, Sebastián Blanco threaded a ball to Diego Chara just outside the 18-yard box. He tapped it to an on-rushing Felipe Mora but the Chilean's shot was saved by Nashville's Joe Willis.
70' - SAVE (POR) - Nashville, searching for an equalizer, worked the ball around the edge of the area before Anibal Godoy hit a low shot that Portland's Steve Clark dove to his left to palm away.
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The Portland Timbers take to the road next week when they travel to face the New England Revolution on March 15 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is 10:30am PT on ROOT SPORTS.
Portland Timbers (1-1-0, 3pts) vs. Nashville SC (0-2-0, 0pts)
March 8, 2020 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 1 0 1
Nashville SC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Valeri (Polo), 12
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Mabiala (caution), 5
NSH: Lovitz (caution), 29
POR: Chara (caution), 84
POR: Duvall (caution), 90+2
Lineups:
POR: GK Clark, D Duvall, D Mabiala, D Zuparic, D Villafaña, M Polo, M Chara, M Y Chara (Ebobisse, 74), M Valeri © (Paredes, 63), M Blanco, F Mora
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Cascante, D Farfan, M Williamson, M Asprilla
TOTAL SHOTS: 3 (Three players tied, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Valeri, Mora, 1); FOULS: 9 (Chara, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 4
NSH: GK Willis, D Miller, D Zimmerman, D Romney, D Lovitz, M McCarty ©, M Godoy, M Accam (Danladi, 61 (Medranda, 82)), M Mukhtar, M Leal, F Badji (Ríos, 71)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Zendejas, D Anibaba, D Beckeles, M Jones
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Leal, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (McCarty, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 1
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Jose Da Silva, Chris Elliott
4th Official: Guido Gonzales Jr.
VAR: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 25,218
Weather: Clear, 50 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
