The Portland Timbers had their second straight home game to open the 2024 season, and after taking a 2-0 lead, the Timbers slipped up in the second half and ended up with a 2-2 draw with DC United. Dairon Asprilla and Santiago Moreno would score for the Timbers, while Mateusz Klich and Kristian Fletcher would score for the visitors.
In the 17th minute, the Timbers would take the lead when Santiago Moreno dribbed into the box, then found an open Dairon Asprilla near the penalty spt, who finished easily, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead. In the 31st minute, the visitors would have their first great chance when Jared Stroud found Cristian Dájome with a soft chip into the box, but the header was saved by a nice reaction from Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. The Timbers had a few good counterattacking chances later in the half but did not add to their score, and held a 1-0 lead at the break.
Dájome had a wonderful chance to level the score for the visitors in the 51st minute, but his shot was off the left post, and though Theodore Ku-DiPietro would only have had to tap into an open net to level the score, he couldn’t quite control the shot and his shot was over the crossbar.
Then in the 61st minute, the Timbers would double their lead when Moreno jumped on a loose ball that Asprilla was unable to control, and converted past DC keeper Alex Bono, and the Timbers lead was now 2-0. But the lead would not last, because just a few minutes later, Timbers midfielder Diego Chará was appealing for an offside on a free kick, and played the ball with his hand, and after a quick review, the referee pointed to the spot. Mateusz Klich would step up to take the kick and converted easily, and the lead was now 2-1.
Crépeau made a few good saves over the next 10 minutes to protect the lead, when in the 82nd minute, Jackson Hopkins would find Kristian Fletcher wide open in the box for an easy tap-in, and the score was tied at 2-2, which would be the final score.
Maxime Crépeau would record six saves for the Timbers, while Alex Bono had one save for DC United.
RECAP | Portland Timbers draw 2-2 with D.C. United | Timbers website
