March 12, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers extended their season-opening unbeaten streak to three games with their first win of the 2022 season, defeating Austin FC 1-0 at Providence Park on Saturday night. Portland earned its first clean sheet of the campaign and did not surrender a shot on target in the match as Bill Tuiloma tallied the game-winning goal with the assist from Yimmi Chara in the 62nd minute.
Goals and Assists
With the assist, Yimmi Chara has contributed to all four of the Timbers goals this season through their first three games, tallying two goals and two assists. Notably, he has recorded a goal or an assist in five consecutive regular season games (2g, 4a), dating back to Nov. 3, 2021. Tuiloma scored his first goal of the season and the fifth of his career with Portland. Three of Tuiloma’s five career goals have been headed goals.
Firsts
Justin Rasmussen earned his first career professional start, logging 90 minutes in his Timbers debut. The club’s 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick, Rasmussen became the fourth Portland draft pick to start a match in his rookie season. David Ayala made his Timbers debut, entering the match in the 75th minute, while 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick Diego Gutierrez made his debut as a late-game substitute. Goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic earned his first career shutout with the club.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Bill Tuiloma (Yimmi Chara), 62nd minute: Off a free kick, Yimmi Chara delivered a pinpoint ball from the right wing to Bill Tuiloma, who sent a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box just inside the right post.
Notes
Portland did not surrender a shot on target in the match, registering its first clean sheet of the campaign.
The Timbers have gone unbeaten in their last 10 matches in MLS play, scoring a goal in each of those matches, tallying 19 goals during that span.
Bill Tuiloma scored his fifth career goal for Portland. Three of his five goals have been headed goals.
Tuiloma made his 80th career MLS regular season appearance in the game.
Yimmi Chara has tallied two goals and two assists in his first three games this season.
Y. Chara has recorded a goal or an assist in five consecutive regular season games (2g, 4a), dating back to Nov. 3, 2021.
Including playoffs, Portland has an all-time record of 17-3-5 at home against Texas teams. The Timbers have earned consecutive wins at home over Austin FC, posting back-to-back shutouts in those matches.
Sebastian Blanco appeared in his 110th career MLS match, entering the match as a substitute in the 75th minute.
Justin Rasmussen made his first career MLS start in the match. Rasmussen is the fourth Timbers MLS SuperDraft pick to start a match in his rookie season, joining Jeremy Ebobisse, Darlington Nagbe and Andrew Jean-Baptiste.
Diego Gutierrez made his professional debut for Timbers, entering the match as a substitute in the 87th minute.
The match featured appearances from players selected by the Timbers in each of the last three MLS SuperDrafts: Zac McGraw (2020), Gutierrez (2021) and Rasmussen (2022).
Aljaz Ivacic appeared in his 10th MLS regular season match, earning his first career shutout.
Next Game
Up next, the Timbers will travel for a road match against FC Dallas on Saturday, March 19, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a local broadcast on FOX12 PLUS with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (1-0-2, 5pts) vs. Austin FC (2-1-0, 6pts)
March 12, 2022 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
Austin FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Tuiloma (Y. Chara), 62
Misconduct Summary:
ATX: Dominguez (caution), 49
ATX: Kolmanic (caution), 50
ATX: Driussi (caution), 50
POR: D. Chara (caution), 54
POR: Paredes (caution), 57
ATX: Pereira (caution), 60
ATX: Valencia (cautio), 90+4
POR: Blanco (caution), 90+5
Lineups:
POR: GK Ivacic, D Rasmussen, D Tuiloma, D McGraw, D Van Rankin, M Paredes (Ayala, 75), M D. Chara ©, M Asprilla (Asprilla, 75), M Y. Chara, M Moreno, F Niezgoda (Gutierrez, 87)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bingham, D Larrys Mabiala, D Zuparic, M Bodily, M Fochive
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Tuiloma, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Tuiloma, 1); FOULS: 15 (Moreno, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 0
ATX: GK Stuver, D Lima, D Cascante, D Gabrielsen, D Kolmanic (Gallagher, 66), M Ring ©, M Pereira (Valencia, 66), M Fagundez (Finlay, 66), M Driussi, M Dominguez (Redes, 74), F Urruti (Djitte, 71)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tarbell, D Keller, M Jimenez, M Martins, M Valencia, F Djitte
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Lima, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 0 (None); FOULS: 14 (Pereira, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 0
Referee: Joe Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Chris Elliot
Fourth Official: Brad Jensen
VAR: Daniel Radford
Attendance: 22,795
Weather: Rainy, 49 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
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