The Portland Timbers got the first MLS win at their renovated home at Providence Park on Saturday, a 4-0 win over the Houston Dynamo that saw goals from Marvin Loria, Diego Valeri, Brian Fernandez, and Jeremy Ebobisse while Steve Clark got the shutout in goal. The match was on a beautiful night in Portland in front of the new capacity of 25,218.
The Timbers would have the first good chance in the 11th minute when a long ball from Jeremy Ebobisse found Brian Fernandez at the top of the box, but his shot was stopped by a nice save from Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis.
In the 38th minute, Houston nearly took the lead when Marlon Hairston‘s shot was deflected by defender Julio Cascante, then rebounded off the right post before going out of bounds. But less than a minute later, the Timbers would take the lead when a long cross from Diego Valeri was headed down by Jorge Moreira and into the run of Marvin Loria, who one-timed the low shot past Willis to put the Timbers up 1-0, which was the score at the break.
In the 58th minute, Loria was fouled in the box by Houston’s DaMarcus Beasley, and Valeri converted the penalty to put the Timbers up 2-0.
Just a few minutes later, the Timbers would widen their lead when Valeri found Fernandez with a long ball, that the Timbers striker cut back and blasted low past Willis to put the Timbers up by a 3-0 score. In the 75th minute, the Timbers would add a fourth goal as Ebobisse cut back near the same spot that Fernandez had just scored from, this time curling a beautiful shot that slipped just inside the far post to put the Timbers up 4-0, which would be the final score.
Steve Clark only needed a single save in earning the shutout, while Joe Willis recorded six saves for Houston.
Timbers match report | Video highlights
