Riding Asprilla's Bicycle, Timbers Rally Past Sounders 4-1

Portland Timbers midfielder Dairon Asprilla (27) does a cartwheel while celebrating after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Portland, Ore. The match ended in a 2-2 tie.(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

By 750 THE GAME STAFF

Dairon Asprilla knows how to ride a bike.

The veteran Timbers winger scored a marvelous bicycle kick goal in the 71st minute to equalize the rivalry match with Seattle, 1-1, that Portland eventually rode for three additional goals to a 4-1 victory.

He loves a bike 🚲@daironasprilla x #RCTID pic.twitter.com/zHEfvdRY2d

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) April 16, 2023

Dairon Asprilla brought out the bicycle. 🚲 pic.twitter.com/gXyPBl62Aj

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2023

The Timbers earned their second victory of the season, and set a new record in the Portland-Seattle rivalry with their fourth consecutive win over their Cascadia foes.

This was the 117th all-time meeting between the two clubs, and 39th across regular and postseason matches in Major League Soccer play.

After the game was scoreless at halftime, the visitors came out the stronger side in the second half and went ahead with a goal from Raul Ruidiaz in the 58th minute.

Portland trail 1-0 as the game entered its final fifteen minutes. But Asprilla’s bicycle goal changed everything.

The game level, and the stadium rocking, Portland found the go-ahead strike from Nathan Fogaca who came on as a substitute in the 65th minute. He scored in the 76th minute to make it 2-1 Portland.

The momentum of the home side would not be stopped. Fogaca started another attacking moment in the 81st minute, his shot forcing a save out of Sounders keeper Stefan Frei that eventually bounced in front of Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who put it away for a third.

In the 89th minute, Portland sprung an attack from end to end that saw the ball at the feet of Juan David Mosquera, and the Timbers right back dribbled with pace to the top of the box before blasting a shot past Frei to make it 4-1 Portland.

The Timbers improve to 8 points through 8 matches (2 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw). Seattle entered the night atop the Western Conference, but suffer their second loss of the season. The Sounders have 16 points through 8 matches (5 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw).

Portland pays a visit to FC Cincinnati next Saturday. Cincinnati suffered its first loss of the season tonight at St Louis City SC, 5-1.

Cincinnati is tied with New England atop the Eastern Conference table with 17 points through 8 matches (5 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws).

Pregame next Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. from TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, right here on 750 The Game.

Catch Talk Timbers with Judah Newby and Apple TV’s Jake Zivin on Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. on 750-AM and 750TheGame.com.

@750TheGame