Antony Alves Santos scored the tiebreaking goal in the 73rd minute shortly after Portland conceded the lead, helping the host Timbers earn a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
The Timbers (11-9-9, 42 points) snapped a four-game winless skid (0-2-2) and improved to 2-4-3 in their past nine MLS matches thanks to Antony’s first goal since June 8. Portland also moved into sixth place in the Western Conference and leads Austin by one point.
Antony scored his seventh goal and surpassed his total from last season by slipping past New York’s Dylan Nealis. Kevin Kelsy sent a long pass to the corner just New York’s Raheem Edwards could cover, and Antony converted the easy tap-in into the bottom left corner of the open net.
The Brazilian forward scored three minutes after Emil Forsberg netted the tying goal by turning around in the center of the box and sending a right-footed shot into the net. He also scored a minute after Carlos Coronel made consecutive saves on Kristoffer Velde and David Da Costa.
Matias Rojas scored his first goal for Portland in the 28th minute after seeing a goal disallowed by an offsides call in the 11th.
New York (11-12-7, 40 points) saw its road winless skid extended to seven games (0-5-2) in MLS play and also dropped to 1-10-4 on the road this season. The Red Bulls remain two points behind the Chicago Fire for the final playoff spot in the East.
Portland goalie James Pantemis made three saves, including a denial of Edwards three minutes after the Timbers regained the lead.
Coronel finished with four saves.
Rojas had a goal disallowed in the 11th when video review determined he was offside and he finished off a brilliant sequence to score his first goal since joining Portland on Aug. 19.
Velde sped through the box to the end line and made a pass to Rojas in the center of the box after getting past New York’s Noah Ellie. Rojas took the pass and leapt over Edwards to send a header into the top left corner for his fifth career MLS goal.
–Field Level Media
