The Portland Timbers admittedly have not been playing incredibly well lately, but they have played just well enough to have won four matches in a row now, all by one goal. The latest a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United with Dairon Asprilla scoring the only goal of the match. Aljaž Ivačič would record the shutout in goal.
The visitors would have the upper hand for much of the first half, and it only took until the 10th minute for them to have their first serious threat on goal, when Ménder García one-timed a shot from close in that was kept out by a nice reaction save by Aljaž Ivačič. Luis Amarilla would then jump on the rebound and headed the ball towards goal, but Claudio Bravo did well to clear the shot off the line and keep the match scoreless.
In the 15th minute Minnesota would have another good opportunity when a nice ball was chipped into the run of García, who had an open look, but put his shot just wide left. In the 35th minute Garcia would have yet another good opportunity after a wild scramble for a loose ball after a corner kick, but he blasted his shot just wide right. The match would be scoreless at the halftime break.
In the second half the Timbers would look much sharper, and they made their first good scoring chance of the match pay off in the 61st minute when a corner kick by Santiago Moreno was met nicely by a header from Dairon Asprilla at the near post and Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair never had a chance as it slipped under the crossbar, and the Timbers had jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
In the 65th minute the visitors would have a decent look at goal with a blast from 18 yards by Will Trapp, but Ivačič was able to deflect the shot over the crossbar.
In the 85th minute Minnesota had one last good chance to draw level when Robin Lod made a few nice moves to make a deep run into the Timbers box, but his shot was blocked by a kick save by Ivačič. The Timbers had a few good late breakaway chances as Minnesota was pushing players forward, but didn’t manage to score again, but the one goal would be enough in the 1-0 victory.
Aljaž Ivačič had five saves on the night while Dayne St. Clair did not record any official saves for Minnesota.
