A share of spoils today in the Lone Star State between the visiting Portland Timbers and renewed Houston Dynamo which moves the Timbers five games unbeaten in this 2022 season.
Aljaz Ivacic earned Man of the Match honors thanks to an amazing trio of saves to deny the Dynamo strikers a chance to open the scoring.
Ivacic twice denied Houston’s Fafa Picault in the 18th minute and then in the 64th minute with a header. Not only does he negate Picault, but also star striker Darwin Quintero in the 7th minute on a cutback shot.
Despite the advantage Portland had in the 75th minute when Dynamo center back defender Teenage Hadebe was shown his second yellow card for a flagrant foul over Yimmi Chara, the Timbers in the end couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage and score the game-winner.
In contrast, the Timbers’ Sebastian Blanco played a whopping 82 minutes for the first time and made a couple of shots at goal. Later in the game, Cristhian Paredes almost scored, but his former teammate Steve Clark denied him in the 39th minute.
Aljaz Ivacic earned his second shutout of the season and the Timbers remain undefeated against Houston in seven straight matches. Diego Chara broke the all-time fouls record with three committed on Saturday.
In the end, both sides had their opportunity at goal, but nothing materialized in the whole course of the game as both keepers stood their ground. Both sides had 14 shots each with Houston 4 directly on goal and Portland just 2.
The Portland Timbers return to Providence Park on Saturday, April 23 to host Real Salt Lake.
Goals
None
Man of the Match
Aljaz Ivacic
