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JULY 7, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Nashville SC at Portland Timbers on July 7, 2924 at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
The heat was up in Providence Park as the Portland Timbers hosted Nashville SC. Portland has never lost to Nashville and would move up to 5th place in the Western Conference if they maintain that streak. Portland was without their MVP, Evander, and Coach Phil Neville due to yellow card accumulation.
Eryk Williamson took over the number 10 spot on the starting lineup and Miguel Araujo, back from injury, was starting on the defensive line. James Pantemas was in goal again while Maxime Crépuau is away on international duty along with fellow Canadian Kamal Miller.
The Timbers looked hot as they took command of the pitch from the start. Williamson got things going with a free kick in the 3rd minute from a hard foul on Mora. Nashville headed it away from the corner of the box giving Portland their first corner kick.
Nashville tried to get on the board first but a shot by Forster Ajago in the 10th minute sailed over the goal and Pantemas punched away a shot by Sam Surridge in the 12th minute for a fantastic save. Jack Maher followed with a header off the corner kick but it also missed the target.
JULY 7, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Nashville SC at Portland Timbers on July 7, 2924 at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
Jonathan Rodriguez stripped the ball away from Nashville in the 18th minute and delivered it to Felipe Mora, who put it in the back of the net for the first goal of the match and his 10th of the season.
After the match Mora said, “I think that was my goal after my injury. Before I had the injury I had reached 10 goals and so I wanted to set that goal for myself, even if I had a really bad injury just to get to the same spot. So, I’m really really happy.”
Surriage had another shot on goal for Nashville in the 21st minute that was punched away again by Pantemas. Portland was on the charge after the save with an intensity and precision that predicted what came next. Williamson sent a cross in to Mosquera in the center box, who’s touch just missed, but Rodriguez was there to collect and sent the ball to the back far post for the Timbers second goal of the night.
Portland continued to push and their third goal came just minutes after their second when Rodriguez took a shot from distance in the 24th minute to get his brace. Santiago Moreno earned his 8th assist of the season on the play.
Before Timber Joey could finish sawing the slab for Jona’s goal, he had another on deck after Santi sent a great cross into Williamson at the far side of the goal and Eryk delivered. Portland had scored 4 goals in 11 minutes!
JULY 7, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Nashville SC at Portland Timbers on July 7, 2924 at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
Nashville could not catch a break and things only got worse for them as the first half played on. In the 33rd minute midfielder Tah Anunga made an ugly tackle on David Ayala and was instantly given a yellow card by head referee Jon Freemon. VAR review changed the card to a red and Nashville would be a man down for the remaining 61 minutes of play.
There were 8 minutes of stoppage time added to the first half with nothing remarkable to report until the 56th when Nashville’s Forster Ajago scored but was quickly called offside. On the following play Shaq Moore took down Rodriguez in the box. The foul went to VAR but no penalty was called, denying Jona an opportunity for the first hat trick in Timbers MLS history.
Ayala was limping and holding his knee throughout the remaining time and would be substituted out at the half to be replaced with Antony. Nashville also made a substitution at the half bringing on Joshua Bauer for Daniel Lovitz.
Nashville midfielder Hany Mukhtar took a right footed shot on goal in the 54th minute, Nashville’s only shot on frame since the 21st minute, that was saved by Pantemas.
Portland played with less heat than the first half but continued to make chances, often with service to Rodriguez. He had a shot on target despite his poor angle on goal in the 58th minute that was saved by Nashville keeper Joe Willis.
JULY 7, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Nashville SC at Portland Timbers on July 7, 2924 at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
Moreno tried for a goal in the 62nd minute but his shot went high and wide. Portland’s assistant head coach, Dave van den Bergh, made a double defender substitution following Santi’s shot. Erik Miller replaced Juan Mosquera and Zac McGraw came in for Dario Zuparic, who is one yellow away from suspension. Zac missed the last match in Dallas due to a face injury from the Minnesota match on June 29th.
Antony and Santi both took a shot at goal in the 68th minute. Antony hit the post and Moreno could not get his shot on frame.Christian Paredes came into the game for Portland in exchange for Moreno at the 75th minute. Antony had another chance in the 82nd but was denied by Willis.
Nashville found a well earned goal in the 82nd minute with a shot from directly in front of the box by Surridge. Surraidge made a straight run at the goal to collect a long low ball from Moore on the right hand side. Pantemas was still to the right side of the box and had no chance to save his clean sheet.
The Timbers took off Eryk Williamson in the 85th minute to bring on Victor Enriquez Velazquez, a Timbers Academy and T2 player, for his Timbers 1st team debut.
JULY 7, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Nashville SC at Portland Timbers on July 7, 2924 at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
Portland seemed determined to get one more on the board before the night was over. Mora had a point blank shot saved by Willis in the 86th and Miller’s header off a corner, with service by Velazquez, went high in the 89th.
There were 4 minutes of stoppage time added. Mora had a shot go wide to the left in the 93rd. Nashville’s Brent Kallman went in the book with a yellow for a cheap foul immediately following Mora’s shot. Antony got one final shot off in the 94th that had Willis off his line to save it. Final score: Timbers 4, Nashville 1.
