July 7, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers forward Felipe Mora (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half against Nashville SC at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports Jonathan Rodriguez scored twice and the Portland Timbers scored four first-half goals en route to an easy 4-1 victory over visiting Nashville SC on Sunday night.
Felipe Mora and Eryk Williamson also scored for the Timbers, who are 6-1-2 in their last nine games. Santiago Moreno had two assists for Portland (9-8-6, 33 points).
Sam Surridge scored his eighth goal of the season for Nashville (6-8-8, 26 points), which lost its third straight game. Nashville SC played the final 55 minutes short-handed because of a red card to Brian Anunga.
Portland goalie James Pantemis made two saves, while Nashville goalie Joe Willis made four.
The Timbers held an 18-12 advantage in shots and had eight shots on target to Nashville’s three.
Evander (10 goals, 11 assists) and coach Phil Neville missed the Timbers game due to a yellow card accumulation. Assistant Dave van den Bergh was Portland’s coach.
Portland scored all four of its first-half goals between the 18th and 29th minutes.
The outbreak began after Rodriguez stole the ball in midfield and dribbled toward the Nashville penalty area. He delivered a pass to Mora, who fired a right-footed shot past Willis for his 10th goal of the season.
Three minutes later, Williamson passed the ball into the centre of the area and found Juan Mosquera, who missed his shot attempt. But the ball went to Rodriguez, who was completely free, who shot with his right foot into the right corner of the net.
In the 24th minute, Moreno sent a long pass to Rodriguez, who maneuvered to his right and fired a right-footed shot from outside the box past Willis, making it 3-0. The goal was Rodriguez’s 11th of the season.
The performance ended five minutes later after another solid pass from Moreno. Williamson received it running in front of the net and shot it with his left foot past Willis. It was Williamson’s second goal of the season.
In the 33rd minute, Anunga violently collided with Portland player David Ayala’s right knee and received a yellow card. Two minutes later, after a review of the match, the card was changed to a red card.
Nashville thought they had opened the scoring in the sixth minute of first-half injury time when Forster Ajago headed in a pass from Shaq Moore. However, Ajago was ruled offside.
Nashville ended Pantemis’ attempts to keep a clean sheet in the 82nd minute when Moore fed Surridge in front of the net, and Surridge scored on a right-footed shot.
–Field level media
