Photo: Diego Diaz
In every game the Portland Timbers play, I can see a man standing out in the field and it’s Santiago Moreno becoming an important part of Giovanni Savarese’s game plan and overall attack.
So far, the man from Colombia is making an amazing impact in this season and looking forward to making an impact as his development is seen as an asset lately becoming the key in the Timbers attack.
In last weekend game against Minnesota, the man was in every play possible and in every game the man is racking up minutes being a stellar in the attack as well defending alongside becoming as an important play maker the Timbers badly need.
In Wednesday’s game against Nashville, the man scored his sixth goal of the season and being close a couple times more to score the go-ahead goal. In the end for the former America de Cali player, the man is playing like there’s no tomorrow.
Coming in the international U-22 program to Portland and with a price tag of $2.5 million, the Timbers had the last laugh out of America de Cali with the purchase of Moreno coming to Rose City and with allocation money to Philadelphia Union for $50,000 dollars.
When Moreno arrived at Rose City, he came with an impressive CV with his team Los Diablos Rojos or Red Devils of Cali. The man had impressive numbers of 52 appearances and six goals with his team.
In addition of participating in Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, and other high-ranking tournaments in South America.
In 2021, the man with the Portland Timbers made his mark with 13 games, three starts, 349 minutes played, four assists, one shot at goal and nine shots overall, as his first goal with the Timbers came in the postseason against Real Salt Lake.
Per Giovanni Savarese, “We are all excited to have a talented player coming here that will provide us many great assets but still has room to develop, and I believe that Portland is a very good place for him to continue to grow.”
So far, his numbers in the 2022 season are of 24 games played and with 18 starts, 1,555 minutes played and five goals alongside seven valuable assists, 36 shots overall and 16 shots at goal and 82% passing accuracy.
Tonight’s game the man was the difference maker with the tying goal in the 27th minute for a final score of 1-1 to settle for the draw at home against Nashville SC.
I think the Portland Timbers found their men to substitute the likes of Diego Valeri and quote me for the bold comparison I’m doing but, in the end, Santiago Moreno is developing into a one of kind layer here in Portland.
Portland Timbers
Nashville SC
