Farfan had actually asked to be traded, reportedly telling the club that he wants a new challenge. In response, LAFC jumped on the opportunity and acquired him for $300K in allocation money.

Timbers, on the other hand, parted with $1 million in order to get Bravo. They will own 80 percent of the player’s rights per the terms of the deal with Banfield.

Marco Farfan made his debut for Portland in the 2017 MLS season as an eighteen-year-old. He played six games in his rookie campaign, becoming the youngest player to start a game for the club in Timbers’ history in the process.

Although he was expected to be the club’s left-back of the future at the time, Farfan never really made enough progress to be the undisputed starter. He leaves Portland with only 34 appearances in four seasons.  

Going to LAFC gives Farfan a chance to have a fresh start. The LA club has been struggling to find a long-term solution in the left-back position, and the 22-year-old player certainly has enough upside to make a run for the starting spot.

Claudio Bravo, on the other hand, comes with a reputation of being among the best young backs in Argentina. He already has 48 games with Banfield while also being featured six times for Argentina’s U23 team.

The post Portland Sends LB Marco Farfan to LAFC, Acquires Claudio Bravo from Banfield appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

This news comes as no surprise, seeing as all three players enjoyed strong showings during the Timbers’ 3-0 thrashing of the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday night. Niezgoda was the Timbers’ standout player with two goals, while Clark made seven saves and kept a clean sheet.

The previous week saw the Timbers defeat Los Angeles Galaxy 6-3 in what was the highest-scoring game of the season so far. Following the resounding victory in LA, striker Jeremy Ebobisse, midfielder Yimmi Chara, and Felipe Mora were featured in the Team of the Week.

While Portland’s domination of the Team of the Week contest may be impressive, it is far from unexpected. After all, the Timbers have been on an outstanding run of form, having achieved a 100% win record in their last five games. This incredible run of form sees Timbers tied on points with Seattle Sounders at the summit of the Western Conference standings, with the Sounders only hanging on to their lead by way of superior goal difference.

The post Portland Timbers Dominate MLS Team of the Week appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following their close 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC are now level on points with current Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew. While Columbus started the day with a two-point advantage, their draw with SC Dallas means that their superior goal difference is all that separates them from their Canadian rivals.

In yesterday’s highest-scoring game of the evening, New York City FC defeated Inter Miami 3-2 in what proved to be a crucial three points on the road for the New Yorkers. This result sees NYC FC surge into fifth place on the Eastern Conference standings.

Shifting over to the Western Conference and current leaders Seattle Sounders continued to establish their dominance with a resounding 3-1 away win over the struggling LA Galaxy. Galaxy, who seem to be a shadow of their former selves, currently sit at the foot of the table.

The Portland Timbers’ win over the Vancouver Whitecaps keeps them within reaching distance of the Sounders, while Sporting Kansas City’s 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo sees them retain third spot.

The post Toronto Tied with Columbus for Poll Position Following Latest Round of MLS Action appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The leaders out west faced the third-placed Western Conference side Minnesota United FC in what was a game of high stakes. Ultimately, Sporting emerged victorious, with Johnny Russell scoring the only goal of the game in the 80th minute.

In the Canadian leg of the competition, 5th placed Eastern Conference side Montreal Impact faced off with Vancouver Whitecaps, the team at the foot of the Western Conference table. Both sides received red cards as Montreal defeated the Whitecaps 4-2 in what was a fast-paced game.

Shifting back to the Western Conference, and playoff contenders LAFC faced off with their close rivals Portland Timbers. Ultimately, it was LAFC who would emerge as winners in a 4-2 thriller. This result allowed them to climb to fourth place in the Western Conference standings, with Portland sit in the sixth spot.

Finally, LA Galaxy made a trip to the San Jose Earthquakes. LA Galaxy, who were in fourth place in the Western Conference, were eager to make quick work of San Jose, who sit in second-last place. Unfortunately for Galaxy, they were held to a 1-1 draw, thereby affording LAFC the opportunity to leapfrog them on the standings.

The next round of MLS action takes place on Wednesday night.

The post Sporting Kansas City Retains Top Spot After Latest Round of MLS Action appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The match got off to a lively start, with Portland thinking they had scored after five minutes as Chris Duvall fired home a shot from a Diego Valeri free-kick. Unfortunately for the Timbers, the goal was deemed to be offside following a video review.

Valeri himself came close to scoring before the halftime break, lobbing the ball over the bar to send both teams into a goalless half time. Overall, the first half of the game was unexpectedly sluggish, with neither team finding their attacking stride.

While the second half looked to be much of the same, the Sounders’ Raul Ruidiaz finally broke the deadlock with a redirected finish off a Jones’ cross in the 72nd minute. 11 minutes later, Riudiaz struck again as he expertly chipped the ball over the Timbers’ keeper.

With the Timbers’ confidence clearly blown after conceding a second goal, the Sounders struck yet again with an 85th-minute goal. This time, Kelvin Leerdam was on the receiving end of a well-crafted move involving most of the Sounders’ midfield lineup.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, with the Sounders facing LA Galaxy and Portland coming up against San Jose.

The post Sounders Silence Timbers in Clash of Champions appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Timbers scored first thanks to Larrys Mabiala’s header in 27th minute after a beautiful free-kick from Diego Valeri.

Orlando got back into the game in 39th when Nani provided an assist for Mauricio Pereyra.

In the second half, experienced Portland team pressured Orlando and finally managed to get ahead again in 66th. Defender Dario Zuparic used a confusion in the six-yard box to place the ball in the back of the net for 2-1, which ultimately ended up being the final score of the game.

“For us this is going to be a great memory,” said Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese after the game. “It’s special, it’s unique and we’re able to lift this trophy that gives us the possibility to compete outside the United States. It’s a special feeling. Who knows if there will be another tournament like this, but we’re proud to give another trophy to Portland.”

By winning the MLS is Back Tournament, Timbers secured themselves a spot in the next year’s CONCACAF Champions League. The team also received a $300,000 in prize money.

Following the end of the tournament, the teams will now resume the 2020 MLS season in local markets.

The post Portland Timbers Lift MLS is Back Trophy With 2-1 Win Over Orlando appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Philadelphia may have retained 62% of the ball possession, the game was evenly-matched throughout, with both teams performing well at the back. In fact, it took two set pieces for Portland to find the back of the net.

Portland’s first goal came in the 13th minute, when Jeremy Ebobisse’s headered home a well-placed corner kick, getting the better of Philadelphia keeper Blake with a well-timed bounce.

After a few non-threatening shots from both sides, Philadelphia were awarded a penalty during the first half stoppage time. Unfortunately for them, striker Sergio Santos rocketed the ball well over the bar – an error that proved to be fatal.

Throughout the second half, Portland managed to launch several effective counter-attacks, with Niezgoda, Valeri, and Polo all taking shots on goal. Ultimately, Portland would extend their lead in the 70th minute through another corner kick, with Sebastian Blanco scoring this time around.

While Portland may have seemed to be in the clear, the final ten minutes of the game proved nail-biting as Philadelphia pulled a goal back in the 85th minute. Mere moments later, it seemed as if Philadelphia had pulled off an unlikely comeback by scoring yet again. Unfortunately for them, the goal was ruled offside, meaning that Portland had successfully held on for the victory.

The second semi final takes place tonight, with Orlando City and Minnesota United battling it out for the other spot in the final.

The post Portland Timbers Secure Spot in MLS Final appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Despite only controlling 38% of possession on the night, Minnesota proved clinical upfront, getting a 20th minute lead against the San Jose Earthquakes by way of a Robin Lod header. With San Jose clearly disgruntled after conceding, Minessota doubled their lead one minute later, with Jacori Hayes scoring from a rebounded shot.

While San Jose pulled one back from the penalty spot on the 50-minute mark, their revival was short-lived as Luis Amarilla scored Minnesota’s third just six minutes later. The responsibility then fell to Marlon Hairston to put San Jose out of their misery, by scoring a fourth in the 86th minute.

Portland’s game against NYC FC followed a similar tale, with the winning side making the most of their opportunities despite seeing less of the ball. While Jesus Medina put New York City in the lead with a 27th-minute penalty, the momentum swung strongly in Portland’s favor for the remainder of the clash.

Sebastian Blanco leveled in the 43rd minute, while second-half goals from Diego Valeri and Andy Polo put the game out of NYC’s reach. Portland is set to face Philadelphia in their semi-final clash, while Minnesota comes up against Orlando City.

The post Minnesota, San Jose Join Philadelphia, and Orlando in MLS Semi-Finals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

When asked about the issue, Valeri hasn’t offered much optimism, saying that he isn’t willing to talk about the contract situation at the moment. According to 2017’s MLS MVP, he will address his future when the season is over.

“I will talk about all this, about my contract situation, after the regular season or after the season is done,” – Valeri told reporters. “We have a couple of important games to play, so it doesn’t make sense for me. Respecting my teammates, our supporters — I don’t think it’s a great idea to talk about that. For me too, I want to be focused on finishing the regular season. It doesn’t make sense. We will talk about that later when the season is done.”

Since signing with Timbers in 2013, Diego Valeri emerged as the team’s most important players and one of the league’s stars. During his time in MLS, Valeri helped Portland win MLS Cup in 2015 while gathering a number of individual recognitions in the process including four All-Star appearances and three MLS Best XI selections.

Prior to his arrival to MLS, Valeri played 10 years for his hometown club of Lanús, while also having loan stints with Portuguese giants Porto and Spanish side Almeria.

The post Timbers’ Diego Valeri on His Contract Situation: “We Will Talk About That Later” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The second game of the season served as a statement for LAFC, which scored four goals to defeat their Western Conference rivals, the Portland Timbers.

Manager Bob Bradley is certainly ready to make a statement with his squad after finishing 3rd in the Western Conference and 5th in the overall table in the club’s debut season last year.

Los Angeles scored early and often at Banc of California Stadium, as Mark-Anthony Kaye their first goal in only the 14th minute of the game.

Carlos Vela was the man of the match, assisting Kaye’s game-opening goal as well as a 65th minute goal by Adama Diomande to put LAFC up by a 3-1 count.

Finally, he got his own goal only 3 minutes later, sentencing Portland to their first defeat of the season.

Christian Ramírez scored LAFC´s other goal in the 45th minute, giving his club a 2-1 lead just before the half.

Jeremy Ebobisse scored the Timbers´only goal of the night.

LAFC will look to continue their hot start against NYCFC on Sunday, while the Timbers will look to get back on track at FC Cincinnati.

The post LAFC Beats Timbers 4-1 in Matchup of West Powers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Farfan had actually asked to be traded, reportedly telling the club that he wants a new challenge. In response, LAFC jumped on the opportunity and acquired him for $300K in allocation money.

Timbers, on the other hand, parted with $1 million in order to get Bravo. They will own 80 percent of the player’s rights per the terms of the deal with Banfield.

Marco Farfan made his debut for Portland in the 2017 MLS season as an eighteen-year-old. He played six games in his rookie campaign, becoming the youngest player to start a game for the club in Timbers’ history in the process.

Although he was expected to be the club’s left-back of the future at the time, Farfan never really made enough progress to be the undisputed starter. He leaves Portland with only 34 appearances in four seasons.  

Going to LAFC gives Farfan a chance to have a fresh start. The LA club has been struggling to find a long-term solution in the left-back position, and the 22-year-old player certainly has enough upside to make a run for the starting spot.

Claudio Bravo, on the other hand, comes with a reputation of being among the best young backs in Argentina. He already has 48 games with Banfield while also being featured six times for Argentina’s U23 team.

The post Portland Sends LB Marco Farfan to LAFC, Acquires Claudio Bravo from Banfield appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

This news comes as no surprise, seeing as all three players enjoyed strong showings during the Timbers’ 3-0 thrashing of the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday night. Niezgoda was the Timbers’ standout player with two goals, while Clark made seven saves and kept a clean sheet.

The previous week saw the Timbers defeat Los Angeles Galaxy 6-3 in what was the highest-scoring game of the season so far. Following the resounding victory in LA, striker Jeremy Ebobisse, midfielder Yimmi Chara, and Felipe Mora were featured in the Team of the Week.

While Portland’s domination of the Team of the Week contest may be impressive, it is far from unexpected. After all, the Timbers have been on an outstanding run of form, having achieved a 100% win record in their last five games. This incredible run of form sees Timbers tied on points with Seattle Sounders at the summit of the Western Conference standings, with the Sounders only hanging on to their lead by way of superior goal difference.

The post Portland Timbers Dominate MLS Team of the Week appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following their close 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC are now level on points with current Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew. While Columbus started the day with a two-point advantage, their draw with SC Dallas means that their superior goal difference is all that separates them from their Canadian rivals.

In yesterday’s highest-scoring game of the evening, New York City FC defeated Inter Miami 3-2 in what proved to be a crucial three points on the road for the New Yorkers. This result sees NYC FC surge into fifth place on the Eastern Conference standings.

Shifting over to the Western Conference and current leaders Seattle Sounders continued to establish their dominance with a resounding 3-1 away win over the struggling LA Galaxy. Galaxy, who seem to be a shadow of their former selves, currently sit at the foot of the table.

The Portland Timbers’ win over the Vancouver Whitecaps keeps them within reaching distance of the Sounders, while Sporting Kansas City’s 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo sees them retain third spot.

The post Toronto Tied with Columbus for Poll Position Following Latest Round of MLS Action appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The leaders out west faced the third-placed Western Conference side Minnesota United FC in what was a game of high stakes. Ultimately, Sporting emerged victorious, with Johnny Russell scoring the only goal of the game in the 80th minute.

In the Canadian leg of the competition, 5th placed Eastern Conference side Montreal Impact faced off with Vancouver Whitecaps, the team at the foot of the Western Conference table. Both sides received red cards as Montreal defeated the Whitecaps 4-2 in what was a fast-paced game.

Shifting back to the Western Conference, and playoff contenders LAFC faced off with their close rivals Portland Timbers. Ultimately, it was LAFC who would emerge as winners in a 4-2 thriller. This result allowed them to climb to fourth place in the Western Conference standings, with Portland sit in the sixth spot.

Finally, LA Galaxy made a trip to the San Jose Earthquakes. LA Galaxy, who were in fourth place in the Western Conference, were eager to make quick work of San Jose, who sit in second-last place. Unfortunately for Galaxy, they were held to a 1-1 draw, thereby affording LAFC the opportunity to leapfrog them on the standings.

The next round of MLS action takes place on Wednesday night.

The post Sporting Kansas City Retains Top Spot After Latest Round of MLS Action appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The match got off to a lively start, with Portland thinking they had scored after five minutes as Chris Duvall fired home a shot from a Diego Valeri free-kick. Unfortunately for the Timbers, the goal was deemed to be offside following a video review.

Valeri himself came close to scoring before the halftime break, lobbing the ball over the bar to send both teams into a goalless half time. Overall, the first half of the game was unexpectedly sluggish, with neither team finding their attacking stride.

While the second half looked to be much of the same, the Sounders’ Raul Ruidiaz finally broke the deadlock with a redirected finish off a Jones’ cross in the 72nd minute. 11 minutes later, Riudiaz struck again as he expertly chipped the ball over the Timbers’ keeper.

With the Timbers’ confidence clearly blown after conceding a second goal, the Sounders struck yet again with an 85th-minute goal. This time, Kelvin Leerdam was on the receiving end of a well-crafted move involving most of the Sounders’ midfield lineup.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, with the Sounders facing LA Galaxy and Portland coming up against San Jose.

The post Sounders Silence Timbers in Clash of Champions appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Timbers scored first thanks to Larrys Mabiala’s header in 27th minute after a beautiful free-kick from Diego Valeri.

Orlando got back into the game in 39th when Nani provided an assist for Mauricio Pereyra.

In the second half, experienced Portland team pressured Orlando and finally managed to get ahead again in 66th. Defender Dario Zuparic used a confusion in the six-yard box to place the ball in the back of the net for 2-1, which ultimately ended up being the final score of the game.

“For us this is going to be a great memory,” said Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese after the game. “It’s special, it’s unique and we’re able to lift this trophy that gives us the possibility to compete outside the United States. It’s a special feeling. Who knows if there will be another tournament like this, but we’re proud to give another trophy to Portland.”

By winning the MLS is Back Tournament, Timbers secured themselves a spot in the next year’s CONCACAF Champions League. The team also received a $300,000 in prize money.

Following the end of the tournament, the teams will now resume the 2020 MLS season in local markets.

The post Portland Timbers Lift MLS is Back Trophy With 2-1 Win Over Orlando appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Philadelphia may have retained 62% of the ball possession, the game was evenly-matched throughout, with both teams performing well at the back. In fact, it took two set pieces for Portland to find the back of the net.

Portland’s first goal came in the 13th minute, when Jeremy Ebobisse’s headered home a well-placed corner kick, getting the better of Philadelphia keeper Blake with a well-timed bounce.

After a few non-threatening shots from both sides, Philadelphia were awarded a penalty during the first half stoppage time. Unfortunately for them, striker Sergio Santos rocketed the ball well over the bar – an error that proved to be fatal.

Throughout the second half, Portland managed to launch several effective counter-attacks, with Niezgoda, Valeri, and Polo all taking shots on goal. Ultimately, Portland would extend their lead in the 70th minute through another corner kick, with Sebastian Blanco scoring this time around.

While Portland may have seemed to be in the clear, the final ten minutes of the game proved nail-biting as Philadelphia pulled a goal back in the 85th minute. Mere moments later, it seemed as if Philadelphia had pulled off an unlikely comeback by scoring yet again. Unfortunately for them, the goal was ruled offside, meaning that Portland had successfully held on for the victory.

The second semi final takes place tonight, with Orlando City and Minnesota United battling it out for the other spot in the final.

The post Portland Timbers Secure Spot in MLS Final appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Despite only controlling 38% of possession on the night, Minnesota proved clinical upfront, getting a 20th minute lead against the San Jose Earthquakes by way of a Robin Lod header. With San Jose clearly disgruntled after conceding, Minessota doubled their lead one minute later, with Jacori Hayes scoring from a rebounded shot.

While San Jose pulled one back from the penalty spot on the 50-minute mark, their revival was short-lived as Luis Amarilla scored Minnesota’s third just six minutes later. The responsibility then fell to Marlon Hairston to put San Jose out of their misery, by scoring a fourth in the 86th minute.

Portland’s game against NYC FC followed a similar tale, with the winning side making the most of their opportunities despite seeing less of the ball. While Jesus Medina put New York City in the lead with a 27th-minute penalty, the momentum swung strongly in Portland’s favor for the remainder of the clash.

Sebastian Blanco leveled in the 43rd minute, while second-half goals from Diego Valeri and Andy Polo put the game out of NYC’s reach. Portland is set to face Philadelphia in their semi-final clash, while Minnesota comes up against Orlando City.

The post Minnesota, San Jose Join Philadelphia, and Orlando in MLS Semi-Finals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

When asked about the issue, Valeri hasn’t offered much optimism, saying that he isn’t willing to talk about the contract situation at the moment. According to 2017’s MLS MVP, he will address his future when the season is over.

“I will talk about all this, about my contract situation, after the regular season or after the season is done,” – Valeri told reporters. “We have a couple of important games to play, so it doesn’t make sense for me. Respecting my teammates, our supporters — I don’t think it’s a great idea to talk about that. For me too, I want to be focused on finishing the regular season. It doesn’t make sense. We will talk about that later when the season is done.”

Since signing with Timbers in 2013, Diego Valeri emerged as the team’s most important players and one of the league’s stars. During his time in MLS, Valeri helped Portland win MLS Cup in 2015 while gathering a number of individual recognitions in the process including four All-Star appearances and three MLS Best XI selections.

Prior to his arrival to MLS, Valeri played 10 years for his hometown club of Lanús, while also having loan stints with Portuguese giants Porto and Spanish side Almeria.

The post Timbers’ Diego Valeri on His Contract Situation: “We Will Talk About That Later” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The second game of the season served as a statement for LAFC, which scored four goals to defeat their Western Conference rivals, the Portland Timbers.

Manager Bob Bradley is certainly ready to make a statement with his squad after finishing 3rd in the Western Conference and 5th in the overall table in the club’s debut season last year.

Los Angeles scored early and often at Banc of California Stadium, as Mark-Anthony Kaye their first goal in only the 14th minute of the game.

Carlos Vela was the man of the match, assisting Kaye’s game-opening goal as well as a 65th minute goal by Adama Diomande to put LAFC up by a 3-1 count.

Finally, he got his own goal only 3 minutes later, sentencing Portland to their first defeat of the season.

Christian Ramírez scored LAFC´s other goal in the 45th minute, giving his club a 2-1 lead just before the half.

Jeremy Ebobisse scored the Timbers´only goal of the night.

LAFC will look to continue their hot start against NYCFC on Sunday, while the Timbers will look to get back on track at FC Cincinnati.

The post LAFC Beats Timbers 4-1 in Matchup of West Powers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.