July 3, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Portland Timbers rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second half, tallying a pair of goals just over four minutes apart to earn a point on the road with a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on Sunday evening. Dairon Asprilla opened the scoring for Portland from the penalty spot, while Jaroslaw Niezgoda evened the match with his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Gaining Momentum
With the draw, Portland is unbeaten in its last four matches, posting a record of 2-0-2 during that span, while scoring eight goals. Notably, the Timbers have scored multiple goals in three consecutive matches. On the road, Portland has earned a point in each of its last two games. During their unbeaten run, five different players have tallied goals: Asprilla, Sebastián Blanco, Yimmi Chara, Santiago Moreno and Niezgoda.
Goal Scorers
Niezgoda tallied his third goal in his last three games for Portland. His six goals lead the team this season. Four of Niezgoda’s six goals have come in road matches this season. Asprilla recorded his third goal of the season. It was his 20th career goal with the Timbers. He is the sixth player in club history to tally 20 or more goals in the club’s MLS era.
Goal-Scoring Plays
NSH – Sean Davis (Randall Leal), 19th minute: Receiving a short pass from Randall Leal near the edge of the box, Sean Davis delivered a curling strike from distance inside the right post.
NSH – Hany Mukhtar (Luke Haakenson), 57th minute: Luke Haakenson played a low, hard cross to the edge of the six-yard box for Hany Mukhtar, who fired the ball into the right corner of the goal.
POR – Dairon Asprilla (penalty kick), 64th minute: Portland was awarded a penalty after Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco fouled Jaroslaw Niezgoda in the box. Dairon Asprilla stepped to the spot and converted.
POR – Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Eryk Williamson), 69th minute: Eryk Williamson took the ball from the center circle and dribbled up the field, sending a through ball down the left side of the box for Niezgoda, who unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle inside the left post.
Notes
Portland is unbeaten in its last four matches (2-0-2).
The Timbers have scored multiple goals in three consecutive matches.
Portland has scored 29 goals this season, which is third-most in the Western Conference.
Five different players (Asprilla, Blanco, Niezgoda, Moreno, Y. Chara) have scored at least one goal for Portland during its unbeaten run.
Dairon Asprilla scored his third goal of the season and the 20th of his Timbers career.
Asprilla became the sixth player to reach three or more goals this season for Portland (Moreno, Blanco, Y. Chara, Niezgoda, Tuiloma). The Timbers are one of just two teams (New York City FC) in the league with six players that have tallied three or more goals this season.
Asprilla is the sixth player in the club’s MLS era to reach the 20-goal mark, which ranks as the sixth-most for the Timbers in MLS.
With his goal, Asprilla is one of five players in Portland’s MLS era with at least 20 goals and 10 assists (Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi, Blanco, Darlington Nagbe).
Asprilla converted his sixth career penalty kick. He has converted all six of his attempts.
Jaroslaw Niezgoda tallied his team-leading sixth goal in the match.
Niezgoda has three goals in his last three matches for Portland.
Eryk Williamson registered his fifth assist of the season.
Williamson has two assists in his last three matches and five assists in his last seven games.
Williamson’s five assists this season ties his career-high, which he set back during the 2020 season.
Today’s match against Nashville was just the second all-time meeting between the two teams and the first match between the two sides in Nashville. Portland is 1-0-1 in the two meetings, earning a 1-0 win in the first meeting between the two sides in 2020.
Next Game
Up next, the Timbers will take on Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, July 9, at Lumen Field. The July 9 match kicks off at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a national television broadcast on FOX with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
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