PORTLAND, Ore. — In a tightly contested match, David Ayala emerged as the hero for the Portland Timbers, scoring a decisive stoppage-time goal to seal a 2-1 victory against St. Louis City on Sunday. This win extended the Timbers’ remarkable unbeaten run at Providence Park to eight consecutive games.
The thrilling conclusion came in the second minute of stoppage time when Ayala converted a corner kick situation into the game-winning goal, igniting celebrations among the home supporters.
The first half of the match passed without any scores, with players battling in sweltering conditions as the temperature soared into the 90s Fahrenheit. It was Akil Watts who broke the deadlock, putting St. Louis City ahead with a well-taken goal in the 50th minute, marking an early advantage for the visitors.
The Timbers, however, responded swiftly. Just five minutes after falling behind, Antony showcased his skill by beating a defender and delivering a precise shot from the edge of the box into the upper corner, balancing the score. This goal accounted for Antony’s sixth of the season, placing him at the top of the team’s scoring charts.
This match marked the second outing for St. Louis City under the guidance of new coach David Critchley, following the dismissal of former coach Olof Mellberg. Critchley had made an immediate impact in his first game, leading the team to a victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, thereby ending a lengthy 11-match regular-season winless spell.
Throughout the game, St. Louis applied pressure, managing to take eight shots on target. However, Portland’s goalkeeper, James Pantemis, proved to be in excellent form, successfully saving seven of these attempts. On the other end, Roman Burki, the St. Louis goalkeeper, made four crucial saves.