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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Timbers out of CONCACAF Champions League

CD Olimpia of Honduras defeats Portland, 3-1

The Columbian
Published:

CD Olimpia scored two goals in the first four minutes Tuesday and eliminated the Portland Timbers from the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League with a 3-1 win in Honduras.

The Timbers and Olimpia both finished with 3-1 records in Group 5, but the Honduran club advances because it scored two away goals to Portland’s one away goal in the two matches between the teams.

A Ben Zemanski goal in the 52nd minute pulled the Timbers within 2-1 — a result that would have advanced Portland — but two minutes later Antony Lazano’s second goal of the game put the home side up 3-1.

A 3-2 or 4-2 loss would have put Portland in the quarterfinals, perhaps as the top seed. But the Timbers could not find a second goal.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter brought on Diego Valeri at halftime and inserted Darlington Nagbe and Fanendo Adi after the Timbers fell behind 3-1.

Moments after entering the match, Nagbe scored but was ruled offside after Maximaliano Urruti collected a pass behind the defense and pushed the ball to Nagbe for a tap-in finish.

Olimpia goalkeeper Donis Escober came up with three timely saves, twice on Valeri free kicks and once on a close-range header. Gaston Fernandez had a header late in the match that flew outside the right post.

It was that kind of night for the Timbers, who had seven players receive yellow cards.

Olimpia forward Romell Quioto scored a stunning goal in the second minute of play. With his back to goal, he flicked the ball over his head and under the cross bar for a quick 1-0 lead. A couple of minutes later, Lazano scored to make it 2-0 and force the Timbers to play catch-up the entire night.

Olimpia advances to play in the quarterfinals in the spring.

The Timbers travel to Dallas for their final Major League Soccer match of the season on Saturday. To make the playoffs, Portland likely needs a win — and definitely needs Colorado to at least draw at Vancouver.

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