Timbers Secure Three Points on the Road with 2-1 Win against Austin FC
September 1, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release
AUSTIN, Tex. – The Portland Timbers (9-8-12, 39 pts) secured three points on the road with a 2-1 result against Austin FC (15-7-6, 51 pts) at Q2 Stadium on Wednesday night. Bill Tuiloma scored the early go-ahead goal for Portland while Zac McGraw notched the game winner and his first MLS goal in the second half.
On the Scoresheet
Opening the scoring for Portland, Tuiloma registered his sixth goal of the season. Notably, Tuiloma has scored headed goals in both matches against Austin this campaign. It marked Tuiloma’s fifth headed goal in 2022, which is second-most in MLS, just behind Brandon Vázquez (6). McGraw recorded his first MLS goal in the match, tallying the game winner and becoming the 12th player to tally a goal for Portland this season. Eryk Williamson notched his eighth assist of the 2022 campaign, getting on the scoresheet in back-to-back matches.
Final Stretch
The Timbers have five matches left in the 2022 campaign and sit in seventh place, just above the playoff line. With 39 points in the standings, the Timbers are only five points behind third place Minnesota United FC and only three points behind fifth and sixth place Nashville SC and Real Salt Lake. Portland will play its next two matches at home, hosting Atlanta United FC on Sept. 4 and Minnesota on Sept. 10. The team will then travel to face Eastern Conference opponent Columbus Crew SC on Sept. 18, followed by their final home match of the regular season on Oct. 2 against LAFC. Closing out the 2022 campaign, Portland will travel to face Salt Lake on Oct. 9. Notably, all three of their remaining Western Conference opponents (LAFC-57 pts, Minnesota-44 pts, RSL-42 pts) are above the Timbers in the current standings.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR: Bill Tuiloma (Eryk Williamson), 16th minute: From just outside of the 18-yard box, Williamson curled a free kick toward the far post for Bill Tuiloma, who headed it down and into the corner of the net.
POR: Zac McGraw, 73rd minute: Williamson dribbled into the box from the left wing and fired a low shot toward the far post. Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver made a diving save, but Zac McGraw pounced on the loose ball in front of an open net and put it away.
ATX: Sebastián Driussi (Alexander Ring, Felipe Martins), 79th minute: After receiving the ball from Alexander Ring inside the box, Felipe Martins turned and lofted the ball toward the penalty spot for Sebastián Driussi, who fired a header into the side netting.
Notes
The Timbers won their first match at Q2 stadium.
Portland is unbeaten against Austin FC in three straight matches (3-0-0), outscoring them 6-1 in that stretch.
The Timbers moved into seventh place in the Western Conference and above the playoff line with tonight’s result.
Portland has scored in 15 consecutive matches, tallying 27 goals during that stretch.
Bill Tuiloma scored his sixth goal of the season, and in a second-straight match against Austin FC.
With five headed goals in the 2022 campaign, Tuiloma ranks second in MLS behind Brandon Vázquez (6).
Tuiloma is the fourth Timbers player to score six or more goals this season (Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Sebastián Blanco, Dairon Asprilla, Tuiloma).
Portland became the fifth team in the league to have four goal scorers with six or more goals apiece (Portland, Philadelphia, LAFC, Minnesota, NYCFC).
Eryk Williamson notched his eighth assist of the season and 15th career assist for Portland.
Williamson has tallied set-piece assists in back-to-back matches (Aug. 26 vs. Seattle).
Williamson will miss the Timbers’ next match due to yellow card accumulation.
Zac McGraw recorded his first MLS goal.
McGraw became the 12th player to score for Portland this season.
McGraw has been tied for the team lead in shots in Portland’s last two matches.
Cristhian Paredes made his 100th MLS appearance in the match. He joins Diego Chara, Sebastián Blanco, Larrys Mabiala and Bill Tuiloma as the only active players on the roster to make 100 appearances with Portland.
Next Game
The Timbers will face a quick turnaround and return home to host Atlanta United at Providence Park on Sunday, Sept. 4. The match kicks off at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a national broadcast on FOX and FOX Deportes with radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
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