The Timbers had one of their best performances in many years, led by a hat trick from Yimmi Chará, along with goals by Diego Valeri and Marvin Loría, on the way to a 5-0 victory over CD Marathón, and a 7-2 result in the series that sees them move on to the quarterfinals. Steve Clark had a shutout in net for the Timbers.
The Timbers would put CD Marathón on their heels right from the start, and it didn’t take long to make the pressure pay off, when in the 18th minute, when a long run down the left side by Dairon Asprilla was played back to Diego Valeri, who then crossed the box to a wide-open Yimmi Chará, who one-timed the shot into the net, and the Timbers had grabbed a 1-0 lead.
In the 36th minute the Timbers would add to that lead, when another long run down the left side from Asprilla would pay off for Yimmi Chará, when the low cross found Chará’s foot and he redirected the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Just before the half, CD Marathón nearly pulled back a goal when Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark was unable to control a high ball into the box, and CD Marathón midfielder Kervin Arriaga appeared ready to score with his quick chance, but the shot was cleared off the line by Timbers defender Dario Župarić, and the Timbers had their 2-0 lead going into the half, and led 4-2 in the series aggregate score.
The Timbers would pepper the CD Marathón net for much of the second half, with Valeri forcing a good diving save from Marathón goalkeeper Denovan Torres just two minutes into the half. Then in the 61st minute it was Asprilla with a chance, cleared off the line by a Marathón defencer.
But in the 66th minute the Timbers would break through again, when Valeri’s low shot off a Josecarlos Van Rankin cross found the net, and the Timbers had a 3-0 lead. In the 72nd and 74th minute the Timbers nearly added to their goal feast, but Torres made good saves.
Then in the 78th minute, Yimmi Chará gave Timbers fans their first look at a hat trick since a US Open Cup match on May 29, 2013 vs. Wilmington. He jumped on a saved shot from Marvin Loría, and finished easily for his third goal of the game. The last Timbers hat trick was by Frédéric Piquionne.
Just before the end of the match, the Timbers would add a fifth goal when Loría made a deep run and scored a sliding goal just under Torres, to make the final 5-0 for the Timbers, and a 7-2 aggregate series win. They now face the winner of the series between Club America and Olimpia. Club America leads 2-1 with a home match remaining on April 14.
Steve Clark had two saves in earning the shutout, while Denovan Torres had four saves for the visitors.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers 5, CD Marathón 0 | Timbers website
HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers score five and notch shutout to advance in Champions League | Timbers website
