Timbers Fall Short to LAFC with 3-2 Road Result

March 4, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of second-half goals wasn’t enough for the Portland Timbers Saturday afternoon as they fell short to LAFC with 3-2 result at BMO Stadium. Evander and Cristhian Paredes scored their first goals of the season while Juan David Mosquera and Nathan Fogaça tallied the assists.

Goal Scorers and Playmakers

Evander scored his first MLS goal in the 62nd minute of today’s match to put Portland on the board. The Brazilian international has started in both of Portland’s matches this season, playing all 180 minutes. Cristhian Paredes registered his first goal of the 2023 campaign in the 84th minute, tallying his 11th career goal for the Timbers. Juan David Mosquera recorded his first career assist for Portland, setting up Evander’s goal. Mosquera also scored his first goal in last week’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City and is the only Portland player with a goal and an assist this season. With a bicycle kick to assist Paredes, Nathan Fogaça tallied his first career assist since joining Portland. Notably, the Timbers have scored in their last 22 MLS matches, tallying 35 goals in that stretch, matching the club’s longest goal-scoring streak all time (June 3, 2017 – March 4, 2018: 39 goals).

Eyes On Next Week

Today’s match was Portland’s second in a six-day span after playing its home opener against Sporting Kansas City on Monday, Feb. 27. Juan David Mosquera scored the game-winning goal in the Timbers’ 1-0 victory in what was supposed to be a Saturday match before being postponed due to severe weather. Up next, the Timbers return home to face expansion-side St. Louis City SC on Saturday, March 11 at Providence Park. It will be the first time the two sides meet in franchise history.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LAFC – Giorgio Chiellini, 24th minute: Portland attempted to clear an LAFC corner kick, but the ball was repossessed by Kellyn Acosta, who floated the ball into the six-yard box. With a loose ball in front of the net, Chiellini finished the play with a right-footed shot into the right corner of the goal.

LAFC – Carlos Vela (penalty kick), 34th minute: The Timbers conceded a foul on the right side of the 18-yard box, resulting in an LAFC penalty kick. Carlos Vela converted the attempt.

LAFC – Kwadwo Opoku (Carlos Vela, Denis Bouanga), 52nd minute: Vela slid a square pass to Kwadwo Opoku inside of the box, who took a touch and fired a low left-footed shot into the back of…