Debutant Loria on song as Timbers down Dynamo
Marvin Loria made his mark in his first career MLS game, scoring a goal in the first half and earning a penalty kick in the second as the Portland Timbers cruised to a 4-0 win on Saturday over the visiting Houston Dynamo.
Diego Valeri scored from the penalty spot and Brian Fernandez added a goal in a span of two minutes of the second half as the Timbers won an MLS game in their refurbished stadium for the first time in two tries this season. They also defeated the LA Galaxy at home in a U.S. Open Cup game earlier in the week.
Jeremy Ebobisse added a third second-half goal for the Timbers, while goalkeeper Steve Clark needed one save for his first shutout of the season in five starts. It was the first time the Timbers held a team scoreless in an MLS game.
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The Dynamo were shut out for the second time in their last three games. They have just one victory in their last six games, a stretch that includes a 1-1 tie at home against Portland on May 15.
Fernandez has now scored at least one goal in all four MLS games he has played, tying a record also held by Charlie Davies, Carlos Ruiz and Alex Pineda Chacon.
Loria, who also made his first appearance for his native Costa Rica in February against the U.S. Men's National Team, scored in the 39th minute to give Portland a 1-0 lead. His sliding left-footed shot came off a feed in the penalty area from Jorge Moreira, who took a long centering pass from Valeri.
Loria's play led directly to Portland's second goal. He was fouled in the penalty area on a late sliding tackle attempt from DaMarcus Beasley. Valeri converted the penalty kick to the upper left corner in the 61st minute for his fourth of the season.
It was Fernandez's turn in the 63rd minute. He scored on a breakaway after a long pass from midfield by Valeri for his fifth of the season.
Ebobisse's fifth goal of the season, in the 75th minute, came from the left side of the penalty area to the right side of the goal, past Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis.
