Timbers notch first win of season by beating Crew

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:23 am

The Portland Timbers scored twice in four minutes of the first half to help win their first game with a 3-1 victory over Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.

Larrys Mabiala made it 1-0 in the 31st minute and Jeremy Ebobisse doubled the score for the Timbers (1-5-1) to end a five-game losing streak. Diego Valeri assisted on the first score, with Sebastián Blanco helping on the second.

Pedro Santos cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 69th minute after the second poor clearance of the match by Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. He was looking for an outlet but instead his throw went directly to Santos for a chip shot as he scrambled back to the net.

Attinella went to his knees to stop a long strike by Federico Higuain in the 86th minute and with the Crew pressing, Jorge Moreira sealed the win in the first minute of stoppage time.

The Timbers had just six goals entering the match while Columbus (4-3-1) had not allowed a goal at home in 385 minutes before falling behind early. The Crew also had a 9-0-2 streak at home in the regular season end. They have lost two straight.

Attinella's first gaffe wasn't as costly when he nearly gifted Columbus the opening goal in the 10th minute. He roamed outside the penalty area sent the ball straight to Higuain, whose 35-yard chip sailed left.

Attinella made amends with saves on Robinho and Jonathan Mensah before the Timbers grabbed the 1-0 lead as Mabiala headed Valeri's restart off the hands of keeper Zack Steffen. Ebobisse followed with a slotted ball from 10 yards via a service by Blanco.

The match was the first against his former club for Crew coach Caleb Porter. He was with Portland from 2013-17 and in 2015 defeated the Crew at Mapfre Stadium to win the MLS Cup.

Columbus hosts D.C. United on Wednesday. Portland continues its 12-match trip to open the season at Toronto FC on April 27.