Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri scored and the Portland Timbers clinched a spot in the knockout round of the MLS is Back tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.
With a pair of wins to open the World Cup-style tournament, the Timbers have secured one of the top two spots in Group F going into Thursday's match against the Los Angeles Football Club.
Alberth Ellis scored on a penalty kick for the Dynamo, who have one point through two matches. They would need a win over the LA Galaxy on Thursday to have any hope of advancing.
Portland Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) scores a goal past Houston Dynamo defender Aljaz Struna, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, July 18, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
Valeri's score in the 61st minute not only gave the Timbers breathing room, but puts him one goal away from becoming the third player in MLS history to record 80-plus goals and 80-plus assists in their career during the regular season.
Valeri took a crossing pass from Eryk Williamson at the top of the box, shook off pressure from Houston's Aljaz Struna and placed a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. It is the Argentine's third goal of the season.
The Dynamo pulled within a goal in the 86th minute when Elis converted a penalty kick, which was awarded after Portland's Jorge Villafaña was called for a handball in the box. Ellis, who has two goals in the tournament, received his second yellow card of the match two minutes later as Houston played a man down the remainder of the match.
Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma, left, and Houston Dynamo defender Aljaz Struna compete for a header in front of the goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 18, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP PhotoPhelan M. Ebenhack)
Portland opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Sebastian Blanco split the midfield in transition and lofted a pass to Ebobisse to the left side of the box. The Timbers forward then beat two Houston defenders and fired a left-foot strike that eluded Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric and found the bottom right corner.
It is Ebobisse's second goal in the tournament and his second in five career matches against Houston.
Houston had a chance to even it three minutes later, but a wide open Elis placed it wide right in the center of the box after getting the feed from Darwin Quintero.
Portland's Steve Clark made three saves and Maric five. The Timbers had a 7-4 edge in shots on target.
The Timbers opened tournament play with a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy and have won three straight this season after dropping their opener to Minnesota. The Dynamo (0-2-2) are still searching for their first win under coach Tab Ramos, the former coach of the national under-20 squad.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's Jackson Ragen was sent off for a red card in the 43rd minute, Alex Roldan was forced to leave in the 75th and the Vancouver Whitecaps took advantage to post a 2-0 victory over the Sounders on Saturday night.
Ragen left the Sounders (1-4-3) a man down after a video review upgraded his foul on Ryan Gauld. Roldan exited after a foul on Vancouver's Ali Ahmed.
Gauld delivered the first goal of the match in the 58th minute when he used an assist from Sam Adekugbe to drill a left-footed shot from the center of the box right down the middle to the top center of the net. It was his third goal of the season with all of them coming in the last four matches.
Brian White added an unassisted insurance goal in the 71st minute for the Whitecaps (5-2-1). He has scored a goal in three straight matches and has four on the season.
Yohei Takaoka saved two shots to earn his third clean sheet of the season for the Whitecaps, leaving him in a four-way tie for the league lead.
Stefan Frei totaled two saves for the Sounders, who have scored just nine goals this season. Five of them came in a shutout win at home over Montreal before being blanked twice since.
The Whitecaps — the first Western Conference club to reach five victories — have won all three of their matches on the road this season.
Vancouver moves into the top spot in the West, one point in front of Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy. LA plays the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday with a chance to tie or retake the lead.
Seattle travels to play D.C. United on Saturday. Vancouver stays on the road to play the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, left, receives the ball next to Vancouver Whitecaps forward Ali Ahmed during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. The Whitecaps won 2-0. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld, second from left, looks to shoot against Seattle Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan (16) during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Sounders with forward Ali Ahmed, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld reacts after scoring against Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei (24) during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák, right, tries to redirect the ball next to midfielder Cristian Roldan, left, against Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas, back left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a save against Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz loses his footing as he runs for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Bjorn Inge Utvik, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan (7) turns to watch as defender Jackson Ragen, not seen, is given a red card for a foul against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, in yellow, punches the ball away from Seattle Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz, second from right, as forward Jordan Morris (13) and Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic (4) watch during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf, left, vies for the ball against Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, left, looks on as the ball is cleared by Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ranko Veselinovic (4) and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder João Paulo makes a pass against Vancouver Whitecaps forward Ali Ahmed (22) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz reacts while waiting for an official to review a play during the first half of the team's MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Seattle. The review resulted in a red card for Sounders defender Jackson Ragen. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
