Portland moves within a point of playoff position behind goals from Larrys Mabiala, Claudio Bravo
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers moved within one point of a playoff position behind a 2-0 win against LAFC at Providence Park on Saturday night. Larrys Mabiala scored his first goal of the season in the first half and Claudio Bravo doubled the lead early in the second half with his second goal of the season to help Portland extend its unbeaten run to three games.Home Cookin’Portland recorded its eighth win of the season in tonight’s match. Seven of the Timbers’ eight wins this campaign have come at Providence Park. Portland’s seven home wins are tied for fourth-most in the Western Conference. The Timbers have won three of their last five regular season home matches, while posting a record of 3-1-1 during that span and scoring multiple goals in all three of their wins. Notably, it marked the first time the Timbers have recorded back-to-back wins at Providence Park this season. The Timbers have tallied 23 goals at Providence Park, including 10 goals in their last five games at home.Mabiala GoalsMabiala scored his first goal of the 2023 season and the ninth of his MLS career. It marked his first goal in all competitions since the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and his first regular season goal since the 2020 season. Mabiala’s nine goals rank as the most by a defender in Portland’s MLS history. Notably, seven of his nine career goals have been headed goals. His seven headed goals are tied for third-most among Timbers players since 2011.Looking AheadWith six matches remaining in the regular season, Portland (33pts) trails FC Dallas (34pts) by just a single point for the ninth and final playoff spot. After tonight’s win against LAFC, the Timbers will play three of their final six matches at home. Two of those matches are against teams above Portland in the standings: San Jose Earthquakes (8th, 37pts) and Houston Dynamo FC (5th, 39pts). Next week, the Timbers will travel to take on Austin FC (10th, 33pts) who sits just above them in the table due to goal differential. Additionally, Portland will face off against the LA Galaxy (13th, 29pts) who currently trails the Timbers in the standings by three points but has two games in hand down the stretch.Goal-Scoring PlaysPOR – Larrys Mabiala, 28th minute: Evander delivered an in-swinging corner kick near the goal line. LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy came off his line to punch the ball away but was unable to clear the ball and Larrys Mabiala headed the ball into the back of the net.POR – Claudio Bravo (Santiago Moreno, Yimmi Chara), 53rd minute: On the counterattack, Claudio Bravo won the ball near midfield and helped start the break. Portland finished the play off with a quick combination played between Yimmi Chara and Santiago Moreno near the edge of the box. Moreno played a backheel pass to Bravo as he darted into the box and finished from close range.Notes
Next GameThe Timbers travel for a road match against Austin FC on Sunday, Sept. 17, at Q2 Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).Video HighlightsHighlights of the match can be downloaded by clicking here. Portland Timbers (8-11-9, 33pts) vs. LAFC (11-9-7, 40pts)Sept. 9, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)Goals by Half 1 2 FPortland Timbers 1 1 2LAFC 0 0 0Scoring Summary: POR: Mabiala, 28POR: Bravo (Moreno, Y. Chara), 53Misconduct Summary:LAFC: Acosta (caution), 57POR: Paredes (caution), 82Lineups:POR: GK Bingham, D Miller, D McGraw, D Mabiala, D Bravo, M Paredes (Antony, 84), M D. Chara ©, M Evander, F Moreno (Asprilla, 67), F Mora (Boli, 74), F Y. Chara (Blanco, 74)Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Rasmussen, D Jones-Riley, M Loría, M CaliskanTOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Mabiala, Evander, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); FOULS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6, SAVES: 2LAFC: GK McCarthy, D Palencia, D Murillo, D Long, D Palacios, M Tillman, M Sánchez (Duenas, 84), M Acosta (Krastev, 64), F Vela ©, F González (Ordaz, 64), F BoguszSubstitutes Not Used: GK Crepeau, D Dellavalle, D Leone, M Crisostomo, F Subah, F GainesTOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Bogusz, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Acosta, Bogusz, 1); FOULS: 12 (Palencia, Sánchez, 1 ); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 3Referee: Drew FischerAssistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Andrew BigelowFourth Official: Matt ThompsonVAR: Younes MarrakchiAttendance: 23,239