PORTLAND, Oregon (Saturday, September 25, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (10-10-6, 36 points) fell 6-1 to Portland Timbers at Providence Park, but maintain position above the playoff line heading into Wednesday’s midweek match against the LA Galaxy.
For Pablo Mastroeni’s and Justen Glad’s postgame video, click here.
The first half saw the home side come out as the aggressor, generating several chances in the first few minutes, including a shot that hit the crossbar in the second minute. Portland was able to finally capitalize in the 27th minute when they were able to string together several key passes on the counter attack to provide Felipe Mara a clear shot at goal. Nearly ten minutes later the Timbers doubled their lead with a header from Dainon Asprilla in the 36th minute. Real Salt Lake made quick work to respond when Damir Kreilach pounced on a loose ball inside the box from goalkeeper Steve Clark in the 41st minute. Despite several more chances, Portland took the 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
Portland took control in the second half with four-consecutive goals, beginning with Yimmi Chara in the 48th minute. His brother Diego Chara got the fourth goal of the night in the 68th minute and second-half substitutes Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Cristhian Paredes got the final goals in the 85th and 88th mintues, respectively. Real Salt Lake saw four shots on goal in the second half, including two from Albert Rusnák and Noah Powder, but it was not enough to overcome Portland’s attack and the match ended 6-1 in favor of the Timbers.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns to Rio Tinto Stadium for a midweek match against LA Galaxy on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. MT. The match will mark the club’s first-annual Hispanic Heritage Night, celebrating the contributions of the Hispanic community.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
POR: Felipe Mara(Sebastian Blanco, Diego Chara) 27thminute: On the counter attack Chara found Blanco, who drifted downfield and slipped the ball across the box to Mara. The forward one-touched the pass into the back of the net.
POR: Dainon Asprilla (Dario Zuparic) 36th minute: After being awarded a free kick Zuparic serviced the ball from Portland’s defensive side of the pitch straight to the head of Asprilla, who rose up over Toni Datkovic and flicked the ball into the lower-left corner.
RSL: Damir Kreilach 41st minute: Pablo Ruiz crossed the ball in towards Justin Meram at the back post, but it was intercepted by a Portland defender and headed straight into goalkeeper Steve Clark. Clark fumbled the ball, leaving it at the feet of an unmarked Kreilach, who easily tapped it in for his 11th of the year.
POR: Yimmi Chara (Sebastian Blanco) 48th minute: With a quick give and go, Chara found Blanco on the side of the 18-yard-box who quickly passed it back. Chara received the pass at the top of the box and curled his shot into the top-right corner.
POR: Diego Chara (Yimmi Chara) 68th minute: Once again on the counter attack, Yimmi Chara broke out down the field and split two defenders to find an unmarked Diego Chara who hit a rocket past David Ochoa.
POR: Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Santiago Moreno) 85th minute: Niezgoda ran onto a pass in the middle of the box from Moreno and hit a right-footed shot into the back of the net.
POR: Cristhian Paredes (Marvin Loria, Claudio Bravo) 88th minute: Bravo found Loria on his right side who then dribbled the ball towards goal before flicking to Paredes. Taking a touch to his right, Paredes hit the across the face of goal for the final score of the night.
NOTES:
- Forward Bobby Wood was unavailable due to a hamstring strain.
- Forward Jeizon Ramirez (quad), goalkeeper Zac MacMath (knee) and defenders Andrew Brody (toe) and Zack Farnsworth (ankle) were unavailable due to injury
- Marcelo Silva is unavailable due to a quad injury sustained in the team’s match at San Jose on September 15.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers
Date: September 25, 2021
Venue: Providence Park; Portland, Oregon
Weather: Clear and 73 degrees
Attendance: 21,579
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
Portland Timbers 2 4 6
POR: Felipe Mara (Sebastian Blanco, Diego Chara) 27’
POR: Dainon Asprilla (Dario Zuparic) 36’
RSL: Damir Kreilach 41’
POR: Yimmi Chara (Sebastian Blanco) 48’
POR: Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Santiago Moreno) 85’
POR: Cristhian Paredes (Marvin Loria, Claudio Bravo) 88’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (3-5-2): David Ochoa; Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Toni Datkovic (Noah Powder 45’); Aaron Herrera, Everton Luiz, Pablo Ruis (Anderson Julio 77’), Albert Rusnak, Justin Meram (Jonathan Menendez 63’); Damir Kreilach, Rubio Rubin (Milan Iloski 89’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Nick Besler, Maikel Chang, Ashtone MorganPortland Timbers (4-2-3-1): Steve Clark; Josecarlos Van Rankin, Claudio Bravo, Dario Zuparic, Bill Tuiloma; Sebastian Blanco (Marvin Loria 80’), George Fochive (Cristhian Paredes 75’), Diego Chara, Yimmi Chara (Diego Valeri 86’), Dainon Asprilla (Santiago Moreno 75’); Felipe Mara (Jaroslaw Niezgoda 80’)
Subs not used: Pablo Bonilla, Aljaz Ivacic, Renzo Zambrano, Zachery McGraw
Stats Summary: RSL / POR
Shots: 18 / 16
Shots on Goal: 9 / 9
Saves: 3 / 8
Corner Kicks: 7 / 7
Fouls: 9 / 14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
POR: Yimmi Chara (caution) 45+8’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 51’
RSL: Justin Glad (caution) 73’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Ryan Graves
4th Official: Ramy Touchant
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Joshua Patlak
