Photo by Brad Penner/USA Today Sports
BY MICHAEL PENG
NEW YORK — Dairon Asprilla found a good time to score the first goal of his MLS career as his score in the 79th minute helped the Portland Timbers defeat New York City FC, 1-0, on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.
Asprilla’s shot from just inside the box was deflected by NYCFC centerback Kwame Watson-Siriboe and bounced past goalkeeper Josh Saunders into the net. The Timbers’ defense proceeded to hold up and spoiled several equalizing opportunities for the home team in the final 15 minutes to make the result hold up.
“I hate saying this, but I’m going to say it, I think we are getting quite unfortunate and really unlucky,” NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis said after the match.
The Timbers, who came in on the heels of a 2-0 loss to Orlando City, did not generate much offense for most of the match but made the most of their opportunities when it counted. Portland had three shots on target in 12 tries and Fanendo Adi and Ishmael Yartey led the way with four and three attempts, respectively.
NYCFC, meanwhile, had to play without several of its regular starters as the likes of Jason Hernandez, Josh Williams, Mix Diskerud and star forward David Villa were all forced to sit due to injuries.
“We had five players who were unavailable today due to injuries and that’s a lot,” Kreis said, “but the players that were called upon tonight to put in a performance showed what they are about and the morale today was especially high. They were willing and able to do anything for each other and that’s encouraging as well.”
Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor started up top for NYCFC instead but the home team could not get the ball past Portland’s Adam Kwarasey in 21 tries — five of which came on goal.
“I thought I created chances, and I thought I helped others create,” said Mullins, who took five shots. “Except that we couldn’t find the final piece of the puzzle, which is to finish off.”
To make matters worse for NYCFC, Taylor was stretchered off the pitch after rolling his ankle without any contact in the 33rd minute. Kreis described Taylor’s injury as “not good” and he fears possible damage to a ligament tendon.
The loss for NYCFC now stretches the club’s winless streak to five matches. The expansion team’s last victory came in its home opener against New England Revolution on March 15.
“The most critical to me is to make sure that we don’t let these results turn into really negative stuff around here,” Kreis said. “It’s the only thing that can really break us right now is if we stop believing in each other and stop willing and able to work for each other.”
NYCFC will get another chance to get back on track when the club visits the Chicago Fire on Friday. Portland, meanwhile, will travel to take to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.