The Portland Timbers had goals from Felipe Mora and Evander and kept their solid run of play going with a 2-1 win over Austin FC. Sebastián Driussi had the lone goal for the hosts.
Austin controlled most of the early play, and in just the ninth minute Gyasi Zardes put a header off the right post, and shortly afterwards, David Bingham made another great save to keep the match scoreless. In the 32nd minute the Timbers finally had a good chance on a counterattack, but Santiago Moreno‘s chance from close-in was saved.
Though Austin had controlled much of play in the first half, it was the Timbers who broke through first in the 39th minute, when Dairon Asprilla made a nice run into the box down the right side, and his low cross ricocheted around in the box, but fell on the foot of Felipe Mora, who finished from just a few yards out, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead. That would be the score at halftime.
The Timbers had much better possession in the second half, and doubled their lead on a beautiful goal in the 64th minute. Yimmi Chará curled a cross into the Austin box that Mora chested into the run of Evander, who one-timed a shot past Brad Stuver, and the Timbers lead was now 2-0.
In the 75th minute, Austin pulled back a goal when Sebastián Driussi slipped in behind the Timbers defense, and though his first shot was saved by Bingham, the Austin forward had a nice follow-up into the top right corner, and the score was now 2-1 Timbers. Franck Boli had a breakaway chance for the Timbers minutes later, but slid his shot just wide right.
The Timbers had some nervous moments defending late in the match, but left Austin with a 2-1 win.
