Football
Reuters 5y

Ebobisse's highlight-reel header lifts Timbers over Toronto FC

Jeremy Ebobisse's highlight-reel, go-ahead header in the 70th minute helped the Portland Timbers hand Toronto FC its first home defeat of the season with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

Opening with 12 straight road games while its stadium is being renovated, Portland (2-5-1, seven points) has won two in a row after going winless in its first six matches.

The Timbers did it with a tight defense that contained Toronto (4-2-1, 13 points), which entered the match with 18 goals scored, but was playing without injured star Jozy Altidore (hamstring).

Portland was rewarded for that defensive effort thanks to Ebobisse, whose fourth goal of 2019 came on a diving header off a perfect cross from Sebastian Blanco.

The loss was the second in three games for Toronto, which fell to 3-1-1 at home.

While both sides worked through an early feeling-out process, Toronto enjoyed a quality chance in the 12th minute when Canadian-born Jordan Hamilton's header was blocked on the first of two straight corners for the home team. Portland also made some noise as wide misses off an Andrew Flores' header and Blanco's right foot woke up Toronto.

Toronto got on the scoresheet first, though, as Jonathan Osorio converted a tap-in at his feet off another corner in the 20th minute. However, just two minutes later, Portland equalized on a brilliant mid-air, right-footed dart from defender Bill Tuiloma off its own corner attempt from Diego Valeri.

Portland kept the pressure coming for the remainder of the first half as Blanco and Valeri each had quality attempts. Officially, Toronto held a 3-2 edge in shots on target through the first portion of the match.

After Portland dictated much of the offensive pace in the first half, Toronto kept a good share of the possession in the second. However, the Timbers' compacted defense continued to frustrate the hosts.

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