PORTLAND, Ore. (September 24, 2017) – In the final match of a four-game road trip, Orlando City SC (9-13-8, 35 points) fell, 3-0, to the Portland Timbers (13-10-8, 47 points) on Sunday at Providence Park.
“We felt we had to win all of our remaining matches. So I think the chances [to make the playoffs] look really grim,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we’ll put out our best team and we go for three points every match. It’s important the players recognize what’s at stake now.”
Kreis came out with a starting XI unchanged from last week’s 3-3 draw at Atlanta, with Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding and Scott Sutter on the back line; Dillon Powers, Yoshimar Yotún, Antonio Nocerino with the captain’s armband and Giles Barnes at the top of the diamond midfield; and Cyle Larin and Dom Dwyer up top. Joe Bendik made his 64th consecutive MLS start for City.
Bendik made his 100th save of the season on Darren Mattocks in the third minute. Bendik earned his second consecutive 100-save season, following his 114 in 2016, which were second-most in the league. The former Clemson Tiger finished with seven saves.
Portland jumped to an early lead on a Diego Valeri penalty kick in the 15th minute. Jonathan Spector tackled Mattocks from behind, but a penalty was awarded following Video Review. Mattocks made it 2-0 in the 29th minute. Valeri made it 3-0 in the 59th minute.
City was reduced to 10 men two minutes into the second half when Spector was shown a second yellow card. The Lions finished with nine men after PC, who came on for Toia in the 77th minute, was shown a straight red in the 84th.
With four matches remaining, Orlando City sits in 10th in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind sixth-place New York.
The Lions face a quick turnaround when they return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27, to host the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
3’ Joe Bendik makes a save on Darren Mattocks after Jeff Attinella sprang the counter with a long throw. It is Bendik’s 100th save this season, giving him his second consecutive 100-save season following his 114 in 2016.
7’ Diego Valeri finds himself in alone and slides it for Dairon Asprilla, who fires back across the box but for no one in particular.
8’ Yoshimar Yotún has a go from distance but it sails over the bar.
10’ Cyle Larin earns a free kick on the left wing. Yotún swings it into the box for Giles Barnes but his header bounces wide.
13’ Jonathan Spector challenges Mattocks in the box and Bendik collects. The play goes under Video Review and a penalty kick is awarded. Spector is issued a yellow card. Bendik guesses correctly but Valeri smashes it to his right. Orlando City 0, Portland Timbers 1.
18’ Dom Dwyer races onto a through ball from Antonio Nocerino and goes down in the box but the play continues.
20’ Mattocks’ header in the six-yard box whizzes past the near post but out for a goal kick.
22’ Scott Sutter’s service from the corner bounces out to Nocerino, who drills his volley from 20 yards on goal but straight at Attinella.
25’ Toia’s cross floats dangerously close to the goal but Attinella leaps for the grab.
29’ Asprilla centers for Mattocks and he taps it far post. Orlando City 0, Portland Timbers 2.
31’ Yotún drives his free kick into the box Portland clears. Toia collects that and launches a shot from 35 yards that Attinella handles.
32’ From the right wing, Barnes lofts it into the box for Dwyer but he can’t direct it on frame.
42’ Mattocks is in alone again but Bendik comes out make the stop.
44’ Yotún finds Dwyer, who turns and fires a shot from 20 yards that slices wide.
45’ Barnes plays Nocerino, who lofts it into the box for Dwyer at the near post but Portland clears.
45+1’ Orlando City earns a corner. Yotún swings it into the six-yard box but Attinella snatches.
45+2’ After two minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 0, Portland Timbers 2.
Second Half
47’ Spector is shown a second yellow and a red card following a challenge on Valeri at midfield.
51’ Seb Hines enters the match in place of Dillon Powers.
52’ Nocerino is shown a yellow card.
54’ Barnes collects the ball and fires a shot that is immediately blocked for a corner. Yotún curls it to the far post for Hines but he puts it over the bar.
56’ Dwyer has the ball at the top of the box but lays it off for Barnes, who blasts a left-footed shot from 20 yards that Attinella swallows. Sebastián Blanco fires over the bar.
59’ Valeri slams it home from close range. Orlando City 0, Portland Timbers 3.
62’ Sutter earns a free kick deep in the Portland third. The free kick delivery is delayed as Lions and Timbers exchange pleasantries. Yotún curls a shot that is headed out for a corner. Yotún takes it to the corner flag and serves an out-swinger that finds Hines, but again it’s over the bar.
66’ Mattocks is in behind, doubles back and fires a sharp-angle shot to the near post that Bendik blocks away. City clears.
67’ Mattocks takes it in from midfield but Bendik makes the save. Darlington Nagbe blasts his shot off the corner wide.
69’ Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Cyle Larin.
72’ Bendik comes out to stop an on-rushing Asprilla.
73’ Bendik comes up huge again on a point-blank shot from Mattocks. Former USL Pro Lion Lawrence Olum enters the match in place of Dairon Asprilla.
76’ Jeremy Ebobisse enters the match in place of Darren Mattocks.
77’ PC enters the match in place of Donny Toia.
80’ Liam Ridgewell is shown a yellow card.
82’ Bendik makes another 1-on-1 save, this time on Ebobisse.
84’ PC is shown a straight red card.
87’ Jack Barmby enters the match in place of Darlington Nagbe. Bendik punches away Valeri’s effort from distance.
89’ Yotún flicks it to the back post for Dwyer, but Attinella makes a good kick save.
90+3’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Portland Timbers 3.
Scoring Summary:
POR - Diego Valeri (PK) 15’
POR - Darren Mattocks (Dairon Asprilla, Diego Chara) 29’
POR - Diego Valeri 59’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Jonathan Spector (Yellow Card) 14’
ORL - Jonathan Spector (Second Yellow, Red Card) 47’
ORL - Antonio Nocerino (Yellow Card) 52’
POR - Liam Ridgewell (Yellow Card) 80’
ORL - PC (Red Card) 84’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Portland Timbers - GK Jeff Attinella, D Roy Miller, ⓒ Liam Ridgewell, Larrys Mabiala, Zarek Valentin, M Darlington Nagbe (Jack Barmby 87’), Diego Chara, Sebastián Blanco, Diego Valeri, Dairon Asprilla (Lawrence Olum 74’), F Darren Mattocks (Jeremy Ebobisse 76’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jake Gleeson, D Vytautas Andriuskevicius, Alvas Powell, M Ben Zemanski
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia (PC 77’), Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M ⓒ Antonio Nocerino, Yoshimar Yotún, Dillon Powers (Seb Hines 51’), Giles Barnes, F Cyle Larin (Richie Laryea 69’), Dom Dwyer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., M Servando Carrasco, Kaká, F Carlos Rivas
Details of the Game:
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: Sept. 24, 2017
Attendance: 21,144
Stats:
Possession:
POR - 58.4 %
ORL - 41.6 %
Shots:
POR - 17
ORL - 13
Saves:
POR - 4
ORL - 7
Fouls:
POR - 16
ORL - 11
Corners:
POR - 6
ORL - 3
