The Portland Timbers faced Austin FC on a rainy night at Providence Park, and a second half headed goal by Bill Tuiloma would be the difference as the Timbers earned 1-0 win. Aljaž Ivačič had the shutout in goal.
In the 24th minute the Timbers would have the first good scoring chance when Dairon Asprilla made a run into the Austin box, with his shot being blocked by an Austin defender. Jarosław Niezgoda had a chance for an open follow-up shot, but put his shot well wide.
In the 32nd minute, Austin would have their own good chance on a header by Nick Lima, which was cleared back to him, and his follow-up low shot was tapped into the goal by Sebastián Driussi, but he was judged offside and the goal was disallowed.
In the 40th minute the hosts would get a great chance to get on the scoreboard first when a long pass from Justin Rasmussen was headed by Bill Tuiloma, but his headed shot would be off the right post and rebounded wide.
Austin would have the next good chance in the 43rd minute when Alexander Ring would make a deep run and chipped a shot into the box that was barely tipped out of danger by Aljaž Ivačič and then cleared out of danger by Josecarlos Van Rankin. The match would be 0-0 at the break as the skies opened up for a very wet second half.
In the 62nd minute the Timbers would finally break through when Yimmi Chará took a free kick from about 30 yards out, and Tuiloma evaded his Austin defenders and got off the headed shot from six yards out that was inside the right post past goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who never had a chance and never flinched on the shot, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.
Austin would get the next good look in the 70th minute when Cecilio Domínguez would have an open look at goal from a tight angle, but blasted his shot over the crossbar. The visitors had another good chance a few minutes later when Ethan Finlay would chip in an unexpected shot from the right side that Ivačič was able to tip over the crossbar.
In the 76th minute Austin would get several good chances on a header, a few close-in shots, and even an attempted bicycle, but still could not find the net. The match would end with the Timbers earning their first win of the year in a 1-0 victory.
MATCH RECAP | Timbers earn first win of the season with 1-0 victory over Austin FC | Timbers website
