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Portland Timbers Advance to MiB Knockouts After Beating Houston

Portland Timbers advance

ORLANDO, Fla. – Portland Timbers FC took on Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in the second game for both teams in Group F of the MLS is Back tournament. Timbers won their first game. Houston drew Los Angeles FC. A win for either team would surely put them in a position to make the knockouts. With the win, Portland Timbers advance.

Portland Timbers Advance to MiB Knockouts After Beating Houston 2-1

The first half was close with both teams trading decent but not super dangerous chances. There was a scary moment just seven minutes in as Maynor Figueroa was given a yellow card. He fouled Pablo Bonilla who was down for several minutes in pain and appeared to be bleeding around the knee.

Jeremy Ebobisse opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Sebastian Blanco trapped the ball at midfield and made a perfect pass into space to the striker, in stride. Ebobisse slotted the ball beyond Aljaz Struna, out of the reach of goalkeeper Marko Maric, and inside the far side netting.

Captain Diego Valeri made it 2-0 in the second half. Portland were comfortably in possession. Larrys Mabiala passed the ball long out of the back to Eryk Williamson. He trapped the ball then found Valeri open in Zone 14. Valeri placed the ball perfecting inside the bottom right corner to score.

Houston got a lifeline when VAR determined that Jorge Villafana played the ball with his hand when challenging Alberth Elis in the air for a cross. Elis converted it to make it 2-1.

That lifeline was quickly wasted as Elis was given a red card in the 88th minute. Chasing down a ball against Bill Tuiloma, he put a hand to the face of the defender. He was given a straight red.

The match ended 2-1. With that, the Timbers have 6 points through two games and are guarantied to finish at least second in Group F to make the MiB knockout stage.

Three Takeaways:

Typical Timbers clinical: With the Los Angeles teams not at full strength, this group was set up well for a Timbers smash-and-grab approach. They were dangerous in transition and possession when playing quickly. Giovanni Savarese set his team up to succeed and because of it, Portland Timbers advance.

Houston lacking ideas: Houston struggled to create shots from inside the box. Portland’s structure left few opportunities in transition. The Dynamo feasted on mistakes from LAFC in their first game. Their lone goal in this game was a PK. There’s a lack of adaptability and ideas right now.

Dynamo not out of it: Houston do play LA Galaxy in their final game, who are vulnerable defensively. A win in that game will give them four points. That will probably be enough to make the knockout stage even if it’s as a best third team.

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