The Portland Timbers won their second match of the season today, taking down high-flying Toronto FC 2-1 and putting in another strong defensive shift to move past their rocky start to the season.
In a match between two teams known for their spotty defending in 2019, play started out in a predictably conservative fashion with neither side willing to expose themselves.
Possession and half-chances came for both sides, but it was off a 20th minute set piece that the deadlock was broken. After a Toronto free kick was punched out of bounds by Steve Clarke, Alejandro Pozuelo served a curling free kick into the Timbers box where it was met by the head of Eriq Zavaleta.