FC Cincinnati tops Timbers for first MLS win in home opener

FC Cincinnati certainly gave a capacity crowd at Nippert Stadium plenty to cheer about in the expansion team's first home game Sunday.

Allan Cruz scored on a backheel shot and Kendall Waston and Mathieu Deplagne also tallied as Cincinnati defeated the defending Western Conference champion Portland Timbers 3-0 for the first win in franchise history (1-1-1).

Goalkeeper Spencer Richey, playing in just his third career game, made three saves for his first shutout. Richey was starting his second straight match in place of the injured Przemyslaw Tyton (hamstring).

The Timbers (0-2-1), who are playing their first 12 matches on the road while their stadium is undergoing renovations, played the final 20 minutes shorthanded after defender Larrys Mabiala was issued his second yellow card.

Portland was also without midfielder Diego Chara, who received a red card last weekend in a 4-1 loss to Los Angeles FC. The Timbers haven't won in their past 23 games without Chara (0-14-9), dating to July 2015.

Waston, who faced Portland numerous times during his days with Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver, opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Leonardo Bertone's free kick from about 40 yards out found Waston at the top right of the 6-yard box and he put a header into the far corner.

Cruz made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, scoring on a backheel from the top of the 6-yard box after a long shot from outside the penalty area deflected off a Portland defender and right to Cruz. Deplagne tipped home a cross from Darren Mattocks, a former Timbers player, in the 63rd minute to cap the scoring.

Portland goalie Jeff Attinella made four saves.

Richey's made two big saves in the about 30 minutes into the match to thwart Portland from tying the score. He first dove to his left to knock away a 25-yard shot from Bill Tuiloma, then stopped a point-blank attempt by Dairon Asprilla off the ensuing corner kick.