The Timbers have already played a few matches this season, including one CONCACAF Champions League match, but the MLS home season started on Saturday night, and the Timbers walked away victors in their home MLS opener for the first time since 2018, this time a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo. Dairon Asprilla and Cristhian Paredes had the goals for the Timbers, while Paredes was also credited with an own goal that was the lone Houston score.
The Timbers took an early lead when in just the sixth minute, when Pablo Bonilla made a great cut near the sideline to give him a good look at a low cross, which Yimmi Chará could not get a foot to, but it found Dairon Asprilla, who one-timed the shot into the net, and the Timbers had an early 1-0 lead.
In the 27th minute, the Timbers would score again, but this time for the visitors, when the Timbers once again were vulnerable on a corner kick, like last week vs. Vancouver. This time a diagonal cross into the box was challenged by several players from both teams, but it was Portland’s Paredes that got his head to the ball, but directed it into his own net, and it was 1-1, which was the score at the break.
The Timbers had many chances to take the lead in the second half, but it took until the 73rd minute to do so, on a play that started with Bill Tuiloma playing a long ball from near midfield that found the head of Felipe Mora, who nodded the ball directly back into the run of Paredes, who hit a hard low shot in full stride, but this time it was the home side that was the benefit on the score, and the Timbers had a 2-1 lead, and would hold on for the 2-1 win, their first victory of the young season.
Jeff Attinella had three saves for the Timbers, while Marko Maric also had three saves for the Dynamo.
I apologize for not having photos of this match, I was not able to secure credentials to shoot this match but hope to do so for more matches this season.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers 2, Houston Dynamo FC 1 | April 24, 2021 | Timbers website
HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers defeat Houston Dynamo FC in MLS home opener | Timbers website
