The Portland Timbers opened their 2021 season, as well as the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League tournament on Tuesday in Honduras, and came away with a 2-2 draw with CD Marathón.
Felipe Mora opened the scoring for the Timbers in the 35th minute on a chipped pass into the box from Josecarlos Van Rankin, that Mora controlled and finished past Denovan Torres, who got a piece of the shot but not enough to keep it out of the net, and the Timbers were up 1-0.
It only took a few minutes for the hosts to level, when Edwin Solano made a run to near the touchline then crossed low to a charging Brayan Castillo, who one-timed the shot into the net to level the score at 1-1, which would be the score at the half.
In the 59th minute the Timbers would take the lead again, when Diego Valeri had a free kick chance from 25 yards out, and though this initial shot hit off the crossbar, the rebound hit off the back of a diving Torres, and directed back into the net for the 2-1 lead.
But CD Marathón once again found the equalizer, this time in the 66th minute, when Marlon Ramírez turned on the ball after receiving a pass near the top of the box, and his quick low shot slipped just inside the left post, and ended up being the final goal in a 2-2 final.
The Timbers and CD Marathón will play the second half of their home-and-home series next Tueday at Providence Park at 5pm.
MATCH RECAP | CD Marathón 2, Portland Timbers 2 | Timbers website
HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers take two road goals from leg one at Marathón | Timbers website
