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Timbers shoot for second straight win against Orlando City

Apr 10, 2015 - 8:38 PM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Timbers will aim for a second consecutive victory on Sunday when the club welcomes Orlando City SC to Providence Park.

The Timbers struggled a bit out of the gate, drawing their first three matches of the season, but the finally grabbed all three points last time out with a comfortable 3-1 result against FC Dallas on home soil.

The Timbers opened the scoring after 23 minutes when Nat Borchers stood unmarked on the back post on a Jorge Villafana corner kick, allowing the Timbers' big center back to square up an easy header goal.

Dallas' came in the 30th minute on a Michel corner kick that Atiba Harris flicked on to Tesho Akindele at the back post for an equally easy finish.

The Timbers' game winner came thanks to the playmaking ability of Darlington Nagbe. He made a long run to the edge of the FCD box, and played to Dairon Asprilla on the right corner. Asprilla sent a sizzling cross into the area that was redirected into the goal by Max Urruti.

Portland added an insurance tally with three minutes to play through a goal from Diego Chara.

"(It) feels good, feels really good. We are off and running now," said Timbers head coach Caleb Porter on his team's first win. "I finally figured out why we don't win in March it's because we're not on the training pitch until April. It's funny because every time we get on the training pitch we start winning. This is the first of many. It feels good. Weights lifted, we will play even better now. We are looking forward to coming back at home because we have to do it again. We need to now accumulate points and accumulate wins."

"Thats the most important thing. I think this group has done everything to get wins these last five games and the four games previously we just haven't been able to do it," added Borchers. "We've played better games and gotten fewer points so I think that tonight was tremendous for the group and for the feeling. I thought we were very deserving of it."

Orlando City, meanwhile, will look to get back on the winning track after going winless in their last three league outings, including last week's last- gasp defeat against D.C. United at the Citrus Bowl.

Luis Silva entered the contest in the 76th minute for Chris Rolfe, and he was given a huge chance shortly before the final whistle when he was fouled by Orlando's Seb Hines and stepped up to the free kick, curling it over the wall and just off the outstretched hand of Orlando City goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts before it settled into the net.

"It's not very often you create as many chances as we have to not score a goal and get dogged again on a set piece. It's not an easy night," said Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath. "I feel for the players, the players have done everything they can to win a game of football. I thought they were terrific in a lot of aspects of play. But it's the oldest saying in football; 'Goals change games' and we didn't score when we had really good opportunities at really important times."