A complete stunner in Providence Park as Loons midfielder Bongokuhle Hloongwane scored the game winner in stoppage time lifting Minnesota United to a 1-0 win over their host the Portland Timbers
Despite the Timbers outplaying the Loons all night long and coming with clear opportunities at goal, in the end, Dayne St. Clair held his ground and denied the Timbers what could have become game winning scores.
Nobody foresaw in the end a counterattack from Minnesota lead by Kevin Arriaga to Hlongwane surrounded by three Timber defenders and still he beat them along keeper Aljaz Ivacic into the left corner and in the 90+5th minute.
Minnesota United (5-5-3-18 points) struggle to win at home, but somehow on the road they are proving to be successful having an opportune and goal seeking midfielder in Hlongwane scoring the game winner.
For the Portland Timbers (4-6-4, 16 points), they saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt halt and ending with a record of (2-0-2).
The conclusion of this match saw the Portland Timbers have a total of 20 shots to nine for the Loons with three shots at goal versus the visitors’ six including the game winning goal in the ending minutes of the match.
Both goalkeepers had a busy day with Dayne St. Clair and Aljaz Ivacic both having four saves each, But, in the end, St. Clair had the clean sheet and the win.
The Timbers via Diego Chara had a shot at goal in the 66th minute, then Cristhian Paredes’s right foot shoot was stopped by the United keeper. Evander tried his luck with a long-distance shot only to be meet by Minnesota’s keeper tipping the ball over the net.
In the 28th minute, both teams had clear opportunities to put this affair away and coming short of their objective as well for Timbers centerback Zac McGraw’s right foot shot again denied by St. Clair.
In the end, the Timbers had their chances and came against a Minnesota defensive wall and a one-of-a-kind performance by Dayne St Clair not allowing the home side any liberties as Portland could have wrapped this one up in both halves.
Suddenly, the Portland Timbers have a scoring drought and being shut down in back-to-back matches, one in midweek against Real Salt Lake and tonight at home against Minnesota.
Goals
Bongokhule Hglongwane 90+5 MIN
Man of the Match
Aljaz Ivacic
Next Match
Sunday May 28, 2023 12:00 pm Sporting Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Portland Timbers
Minnesota United FC
