PORTLAND, Ore. — New arrival David Da Costa made a significant impact for the Portland Timbers by scoring his first league goal from a set piece in the 79th minute, helping the team secure a 1-0 victory over Austin FC on Saturday night. This marked Da Costa’s inaugural start and just his second league appearance.
James Pantemis was formidable in goal, recording four saves for the Timbers, marking his sixth clean sheet in what is his 15th start for the club over two seasons. Prior to joining Portland, Pantemis achieved seven shutouts in 29 starts with CF Montreal during the 2021-22 season.
On the other side, Brad Stuver made a single save for Austin FC. The match was largely a defensive duel, with neither side managing a shot on goal in the second half until Pantemis made a save from a long-range attempt by Besard Sabovic in the 76th minute. The first half concluded without goals, with Pantemis making three saves.
Portland was seeking redemption after a discouraging 4-1 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps in their home season opener. They were without defender Kamal Miller, who was suspended following a red card in that match.
Austin FC entered the game riding momentum from a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in their initial home fixture, hoping to become just the sixth team in league history to secure at least a point across three consecutive trips to Portland. They previously achieved a 2-2 draw in 2023 and a 1-0 win the last season.
Looking ahead, Austin FC will host the Colorado Rapids in their next match on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Timbers will be on the road to face off against Nashville SC on the same day.
