The Portland Timbers nab second win of the season with win over rival Seattle Sounders
By Alex Windley
The Portland Timbers grabbed just their second win of the season with a 4-1 thumping over rival Seattle Sounders at Providence Park as goals by Dairon Asprilla, Nathan Fogaca, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, and Juan Mosquera gave the Timbers all three points.
Head coach Gio Savarese was excited about his team’s performance during his postmatch conference, hailing Asprilla’s goal specifically.
"The energy that we got after Asprilla's amazing goal – that was I think the moment that took the team to a different level," Savarese said. "And then we finished very, very strong. Very good. I mean, one of the best finishes I would say that we have had."
Asprilla had similar sentiments to his coach, saying that he’s always prepared for a bicycle kick.
"I stay ready every time for a bicycle. When I see the ball, it's perfect for me to try. When you have a dream, you try, every time."
Savarese highlighted the Timber’s tendency to play well against the Sounders and how these games have an extra level of hype attached to them.
"It's different ways, but it's being able to execute the plan that we have and put the right energy, it's of a different level," he said.
"Because this game you have to play with a lot more intensity. But if you ask me what's the reason why we've been good in these past few games against them, the reason I can say is that we understand how important these games are and we give everything that we have."
Currently sitting 9th in the West with two wins, two draws, and four losses, Savarese hopes this win can give them the momentum they need to attack the rest of the season.
"Hopefully it's like last year that we turned our season exactly like the game against Seattle we played here at home," he said.
"But only getting the right results in the next few games will tell that hopefully we turn around the season and that we are going to be more competitive, hopefully get more points and get a little bit higher up on the table. [It was] a special night. Very proud of the guys. Now we enjoy tonight and then we have to start working again tomorrow. More games to play, and they're all very tough coming in."
The Timbers will look to continue their winning ways on April 22nd as they head to Ohio to take on FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.