TORONTO — Javier Martina scored two goals, including a gorgeous volley from long range, and Toronto FC beat Portland 2-0 on Saturday.
The Dutch winger conjured a highlight-reel goal out of nothing in the 70th minute, pulling down a booming goal kick from Stefan Frei and then volleying it from outside the box over reserve goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
The artistry seemed to inspire Toronto, which finished strongly before a crowd of 20,086 who braved weather better suited for outdoor hockey than soccer.
The fans gave Martina a standing ovation when he was substituted with three minutes remaining.
“I think for us, the big positive this week, I don’t think the best team won the game,” Timbers coach John Spencer said. “But at the end of the day, they scored two goals and that’s what matters.”
Toronto went ahead in the 14th after a through ball from Maicon Santos to Dwayne De Rosario slashed open the defense.
A Timbers player got his body between De Rosario and the goal but the Toronto captain flicked the ball back on an onrushing Martina who poked it in past Adin Brown.
Turnovers began to cost Toronto as the half wore on, with the home side repeatedly giving the ball away. There were also occasional glimpses of the Three Stooges-like defending that cost TFC in last week’s opener but Portland could not take advantage.
The Timbers outshot Toronto 5-4 in the first half but failed to put any on target. Toronto had one shot on target and made it count.
“I think for the majority of the game, we pushed the game to them,” Timbers forward Jack Jewsbury said. “Again, just a few mistakes on our part and they capitalized on them. We need to make sure that we try to sure those things up, but at the same time I think if we bring that fight and that energy like we did tonight we will be on the other end as well.”
Portland switched goalies at the half, with New Zealand under-20 international Gleeson coming in for Brown, who injured his hamstring. No. 1 goalkeeper Troy Perkins sat out the game with a knee sprain.
Gleeson had to make a big save within minutes after Alan Gordon flicked the ball on to Santos. Soon after Frei had to turn aside a hard shot from Rodney Wallace.
Wallace shot wide again in the 69th minute.
The Timbers appeared to be running out of goalies when Gleeson went down after hurdling an attacker to punch away a corner. But he limped to his feet and continued.
Spencer said Gleeson did “fantastic” in his MLS debut.
“I think he’s a fantastic young goalkeeper that could possibly go on to play at the highest of levels,” Spencer said. “That’s how well we rate him and how high we think he should go in his future.”
Both teams were coming off losses. Toronto looked poor in a 4-2 loss away to expansion Vancouver while the Timbers were beaten 3-1 on the road by defending champion Colorado.
Jewsbury said the Timbers did improve their play from last week, but work needs to be done.
“Definitely there was some positives to draw for us, but at the end of the day, it is a results-oriented business and we definitely have to try to get some points while we are on the road,” he said.
It was a chilly day down by the lake, with a temperature of 25 feeling more like 15 as Toronto players wore winter hats on the field for their warmup.
Mikael Yourassowsky came in for the injured Nana Attakora in the Toronto backline, playing left back, with Adrian Cann returning to his accustomed center back role. Alan Gordon started at forward.
Yourassowsky was sent off with six minutes remaining when he got a second yellow card, apparently for time wasting, as he was substituted.
