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Mora, Evander tally goals, four different players record assists

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers rallied twice to pull within a single goal on two separate occasions, but were unable to find a late equalizer, falling 3-2 to Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park on Saturday night. Felipe Mora tallied his first goal of the 2023 MLS season, while Evander added his team-leading sixth goal of the campaign. Dairon Asprilla, Sebastián Blanco, Santiago Moreno and Juan David Mosquera all notched assists for Portland in the match.

Mora Magic
Starting tonight’s match, Felipe Mora earned his first regular season start for the Timbers since Oct. 27, 2021, and scored his first goal in league play this season. It marked his first goal in MLS regular season play since July 17, 2022, against Vancouver, and the 20^th of his Timbers career. Notably, 45 percent of Mora’s goals (9-of-20) have been headed goals. The 30-year-old striker has scored three goals in seven career appearances against Whitecaps FC. Across all competitions, Mora has scored 25 goals for the Timbers, and two this year including his Leagues Cup goal against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 22.

Setting The Table
Four different players recorded assists for Portland in the match against Vancouver. It marks the fourth time the Timbers have had four different players record an assist in the same match in 2023. Portland also accomplished this against Whitecaps FC on May 13. Santiago Moreno tallied his team-leading seventh assist of 2023. Sebastián Blanco recorded his first assist of the season. With Blanco’s assist, a total of 15 players have registered at least one assist for the Timbers in 2023. Dairon Asprilla notched his second assist of the campaign becoming the 10th player to record multiple assists for the club this season. Juan David Mosquera added his fourth assist of 2023.

Cascadia Cup Run
Tonight’s match was Portland’s fifth in 2023 Cascadia Cup play. The Timbers are looking to retain the Cascadia Cup, currently sitting in second place in the standings with seven points (2-2-1). With the win, Vancouver sits atop the standings with nine points (3-2-0), while Seattle Sounders FC remain last in the standings on four points (1-2-1). To win the 2023 Cascadia Cup, Portland will need to secure a road win against Seattle on Sept. 2 coupled with a Sounders FC win over Whitecaps FC on Oct. 7. Portland claimed its third Cascadia Cup title in club history (2022, 2017, 2012) last year, finishing the 2022 competition with a combined record of 3-0-1 over Seattle (2-0-0) and Vancouver (1-0-1).

Goal-Scoring Plays
VWFC – Ryan Gauld (Brian White), 13th minute: Vancouver worked the ball down the left side of the field. Sam Adekugba delivered a cross into the center of the box that was initially redirected by Brian White before landing at the feet of Ryan Gauld for the finish from inside the six-yard box.

VWFC – Brian White (Ryan Gauld, Ali Ahmed), 36th minute: On the counterattack, Ali Ahmed played a ball in behind the Timbers backline for Gauld running down the left side of the box. Gauld clipped the ball to White, who converted with a header at the back post.

POR – Felipe Mora (Dairon Asprilla, Juan David Mosquera), 53rd minute: Dairon Asprilla received the ball out wide near the right sideline. Asprilla turned and played a pinpoint cross into the center of the box for Felipe Mora, who delivered a header from close range under the crossbar.

VWFC – Ryan Gauld (penalty kick), 60th minute: Evander was whistled for a foul inside the box. Gauld stepped to the spot and fired a shot into the right side of the net.

POR – Evander (Sebastián Blanco, Santiago Moreno), 85th minute: Santiago Moreno played a diagonal pass for SebastiánBlanco making a run down the left side of the box. Blanco slotted the ball across the box to Evander for the curling finish from close range.

Notes

• Starting tonight’s match, Felipe Mora earned his first regular season start for the Timbers since Oct. 27, 2021, and scored his first goal in league play this season.
• It was Mora’s first goal in league play since July 17, 2022, against Vancouver.
• Mora has scored three goals in seven appearances against Vancouver.
• It marked Mora’s 20th career regular season goal for the Timbers.
• In Mora’s career, 45 percent (9 of 20 goals) have been headed goals.
• Evander scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season, which is tied with Franck Boli.
• Santiago Moreno recorded his team-leading seventh assist of the season.
• Juan David Mosquera registered his fourth assist of 2023.
• Dairon Asprilla tallied his second assist of the campaign.
• Asprilla has registered multiple assists in each of the last three seasons.
• Asprilla is the 10th player to record multiple assists for Portland in 2023.
• Sebastián Blanco recorded his first assist of the 2023 season.
• Blanco is the 15th different player to register an assist for Portland this campaign.
• Antony made his MLS debut, entering the match as a substitute int the 79th minute.
• Portland has scored in five straight home matches.
• The Timbers sit in second place in the Cascadia Cup standings.
• To retain the Cascadia Cup, Portland will need to secure a road win against Seattle on Sept. 2 coupled with a Sounders FC win over Whitecaps FC on Oct. 7.

Next Game
Facing a quick turnaround, the Timbers square off against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Providence Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 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 Highlights
Highlights of the match can be downloaded by clicking here.

Portland Timbers (6-11-8, 26pts) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9-8-7, 34pts)
Aug. 26, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half                            1          2          F
Portland Timbers                      0          2          2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC         2          1          3

Scoring Summary: 
VWFC: Gauld (White), 13
VWFC: White (Gauld, Amed), 36
POR: Mora (Asprilla, Mosquera), 53
VWFC: Gauld (penalty kick), 60
POR: Evander (Blanco, Moreno), 85

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Evander (caution), 34
POR: Zuparic (caution), 51
POR: Asprilla (caution), 63
VWFC: Cubas (caution), 65
POR: Boli (caution), 90+4
VWFC: Lareya (caution), 90+5

Lineups:
POR: GK Bingham, D Mosquera, D Araujo (McGraw, 82), D Zuparic, D Bravo, M D. Chara ©, M Paredes (Antony, 79), M Evander, F Asprilla (Moreno, 66), F Mora (Boli, 66), F Y. Chara (Blanco, 66)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivacic, D Mabiala, D Miller, M Acosta

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Evander, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); FOULS: 17 (Zuparic, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6, SAVES: 0

VWFC: GK Takaoka, D Brown (Laborda, 7), D Veselinović, D Blackmon, M Cubas, M Laryea (Vite, 89), M Schöpf (Berhalter, 79), M Ahmed, M Adekugbe (Raposo¸62), F White, F Gauld © (Teibert, 89)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Boehmer, M Ngando, F Becher, F Córdova

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Gauld, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Gauld, 2); FOULS: 11 (Cubas, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3

Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Adam Garner
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 22,674

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