Timbers outshot Austin FC 25 -7 but failed to find the back of the net

OCTOBER 2 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Evander and Kamal Miller by Diego G Diaz.

It was a crisp autumn Wednesday night at Providence Park as the Portland Timbers hosted Austin FC. A win for the Timbers would guarantee a spot in the playoffs while a win for Austin was necessary for them to make a playoff run.

Evander was back in the starting lineup for Portland after missing the match in Vancouver due to yellow card accumulation. He had his first shot on goal in the 10th minute that was blocked and another in the 12th from the 18-yard line that went just wide to the left.

Austin’s Dani Pereira was the first one in head referee Alexis Da Silva’s book with a yellow card for poor sportsmanship in the 22nd minute. Austin forward Osman Bukari had an offsides shot at the goal following the yellow after an original shot was blocked by Maxime Crépeau.

Portland took command of the field for the next 15 minutes with five attempts at goal. Evander took a free kick in the 26th that went high after clipping the wall, Santiago Moreno had a shot blocked in the 28th, Jonathan Rodriguez was blocked in the 29th, Evander had a header saved in the 35th, and Santi’s shot in the 37th was also saved by Brad Stuver.

OCTOBER 2 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Jonathan Rodriguez by Diego G Diaz.

Austin’s Jáder Obrian earned the team’s second yellow in the 40th for a bad foul against Diego Chara and for arguing with Alexis Da Silva. They bounced back quickly with a goal by Dani Pereira in the 42nd that started with a short clearance by Portland’s Kamal Miller. Obrian’s shot from about 20 yards center of goal took a deflection and was able to sail past a diving Crépeau. It was Obrian’s first goal of the season.

Portland was unable to do much with the 2 minutes of stoppage time added to the first half. They came out with a desperate energy in the 2nd half that seemed as if it would pay off in the 50th when a shot by Claudio Bravo was saved by Stuver.

Two minutes later Bravo had a shot hit the post and Santi’s shot from beyond the arch on the following play was saved by Stuver jumping and popping it over the crossbar. Portland collected the ball in the 53rd and Stuver, once again was there for the save and blocked Jona’s point blank shot.

Felipe Mora had a shot blocked by Oleksandr Svatok in the 53rd and David Ayala’s long distance attempt at getting on the board in the 54th was just wide to the left.

OCTOBER 2 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Claudio Bravo by Diego G Diaz.

Austin made the first substitution of the match in the 65th bringing off a forward in Bukari and adding defender Hector Jimenez to go with a back five. Jona took another shot at goal in the 66th but it went straight into the arms of the keeper.

Mora had another shot blocked again by Svatok in the 67th. Portland substituted Eryk Williamson in for Diego Chara in the 69th and Austin FC made their second substitution in the 73rd bringing on Zardes for Rubio.

Rodriguez took a running shot on goal in the 73rd with a cross from Juan Mosquera but it was saved. On the next possession, Evander took a shot from distance from the right side that was also saved by Brad Stuver.

Austin had their first shot on goal in the 2nd half at the 77-minute mark when Driussi’s shot went wide to the left. The Timbers brought on Antony for Bravo in the 78th.

OCTOBER 2 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Mora’s header with Dario Zuparic by Diego G Diaz.

Portland earned a corner kick in the 82nd with service by Evander. Mora connected with a header but missed to the right of the goal. Juan took a shot in the 84th that missed by a hair to the right. Rodriguez took one last shot in the final minute of regular time, with Stuver easily collecting.

Ayala took a shot in the 2nd of 7 minutes of stoppage time added by Da Silva that was saved. Zardes took a shot for Austin FC a minute later that went over the crossbar. Phil Neville made one last substitution in the 90 +3 bringing on Tego Ikoba for David Ayala.

Austin made the final two plays of the game. One was a shot by Driussi that missed to the left and the other was the last yellow card of the game going to Stuver for wasting time.

Portland outshot Austin FC 25 to 7, Stuver had to make 10 saves to Crépeau’s 0, and Austin had all 3 yellow cards and yet, it was Austin who came out on top. The Timbers lost at home 0-1 and will have to wait until the match on Sunday against Minnesota to secure their spot in the playoffs.