The Timbers had their best-ever run in their third attempt at the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, but ran into the most successful club in the history of the tournament in Club América. Though the Timbers earned a hard-fought draw last week at home in the first leg, and looked very competitive at times in the second leg tonight in Mexico, Club América was simply too much for the Timbers, and they fell 3-1 tonight, and lose 4-2 on aggregate.
Club América controlled the match early, just as they did last week, and it paid off in the 21st minute when Federico Viñas headed home a cross brilliantly to give Club América a 1-0 halftime lead.
The Timbers looked sharper in the second half, just as they did last week, and forced good saves by Club América goalkeeper Memo Ochoa in the 46th minute on a shot by Felipe Mora, and in the 53rd minute on a shot by Yimmi Chará. But then in the 59th minute, Club América was awarded a penalty kick on what appeared to be a soft foul (if a foul at all) by Claudio Bravo, and Federico Viñas converted on the chance very nearly saved by goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, but it was now 2-0.
But then just six minute later, the Timbers would be awarded a penalty kick themselves (and the FOURTH of the series) on what again appeared to be a soft foul (if a foul at all) suffered by Mora, and Diego Valeri converted well into the upper left corner, and it was now 2-1 Club América in the series, and 3-2 on aggregate, and suddenly the Timbers had the chance where a single goal would send them through on away goals.
But it was not to be as just a few minutes later, in the 70th minute, Leonardo Suárez restored Club América’s two goal lead when his shot from the top of the box deflected off a Timbers defender and found it’s way into the goal just inside the left post to make it 3-1 Club América, and 4-2 on aggregate.
The Timbers had a few good chances to pull back within a goal, but never found the net, and the 3-1 Club América final means a 4-2 series win, and the Timbers good run in the 2021 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League ends in Mexico City.
MATCH RECAP | Club América 3, Portland Timbers 1 | May 5, 2021 | Timbers website
