Portland Timbers vs. Atlanta United FC – Football Match Report – September 4, 2022 – ESPN

Santiago Moreno and Dairon Asprilla transformed penalty kicks on both aspect of halftime because the Portland Timbers held on for a vital 2-1 victory over visiting Atlanta United on Sunday.

Asprilla has seven targets on the season with 4 from the penalty spot, and Moreno has six with three from the spot for Portland (10-8-12, 42 factors), which has gained three in a row and leads MLS with 11 penalties earned this season.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, extra (U.S.)

Aljaz Ivacic made a lone save and bought inside a pair minutes of his sixth clear sheet because the Timbers assured they may end the weekend nonetheless holding one of many seven Western Convention playoff locations.

Josef Martinez headed in Marcelino Moreno’s nook kick very late for Atlanta (8-12-9, 33 factors) for his team-leading eighth aim on simply the workforce’s second shot on track.

However that wasn’t sufficient to maintain Atlanta from closing what started as a five-point hole between United and the East playoff locations.

Moreno gave Portland the lead within the thirty eighth minute on a penalty he earned himself.

After his cross was half-cleared by a header from an Atlanta defender, Moreno reached the unfastened ball within the penalty space first and chipped a contact over lunging defender Juan Jose Purata.

Referee Jon Freemon dominated Purata had caught Moreno along with his leg. Moreno gained a debate amongst his personal gamers to take the spot kick, and drove a end into the highest left nook past the dive of Raul Gudino, who had guessed appropriately.

Yimmi Chara earned the second penalty when he bought behind Santiago Sosa and induced the midfielder into a slipshod deal with from behind.

Freemon waited a second earlier than awarding the penalty, however was vindicated by replays clearly exhibiting a foul. This time Gudino guessed fallacious, leaving a easy end for Asprilla.

Atlanta in all probability had the very best likelihood of the match previous to the opening aim, when Luiz Araujo was performed on aim by Sosa however had his effort saved by Ivacic.

The rebound fell to Ronaldo Cisneros in a promising spot, however he badly missed the goal on his one-time try.