Santiago Moreno and Evander each had a goal and an assist as the Portland Timbers snapped Real Salt Lake’s 10-match road unbeaten streak with a 3-0 victory Saturday night.
Felipe Mora also tallied for the Timbers (10-8-6, 36 points) and goalkeeper James Pantemis made three saves. Portland improved to 6-0-1 in its past seven home outings.
Zac MacMath made four saves for RSL (12-4-7, 43 points), which had gone 4-0-6 in away matches since a 2-0 loss at Inter Miami in the season opener. Chicho Arango, who leads MLS with 17 goals this season, was thwarted by the Timbers’ back line.
The Timbers scored in the third minute of each half.
The first came after Moreno and Juan Mosquera played a give-and-go down the right wing. Moreno dribbled to the end line and then got past two defenders before sending a cross to Mora for a low one-timer from the top of the 6-yard box that snuck between MacMath and the near post. The goal was Mora’s career-high-tying 11th of the season, tying Jonathan Rodriguez and Evander for the team lead.
On the second goal, Mosquera sent a cross from the right wing to Rodriguez for a back-post header. MacMath made a diving save but the rebound fell to Mosquera, who sent another cross to Rodriguez across the goalmouth. Rodriguez lobbed a pass to Evander near the penalty spot and he headed the ball to Moreno for a sidewinding half-volley from 10 yards out that found the lower left corner of the net.
Evander put the game away on a left-footed shot from 15 yards out in the 90th minute off a pass from Antony.
Arango had two strong opportunities. In the 41st minute, he took a low 25-yard shot that a diving Pantemis got a hand on to steer just wide of the net. And in the 75th minute, Arango put a 10-yard header off the outside of the left post.
The Timbers lead the all-time regular-season series 14-9-10.
–Field Level Media
