Ariel Lassiter scored in the 88th minute, securing a 3-2 victory for the Portland Timbers against the Columbus Crew in Saturday’s season-opening match at Portland. Lassiter’s late goal was pivotal in clinching the win after a closely contested game featuring multiple lead changes.
Early Lead and Responses in a Back-and-Forth First Half
Columbus’ Wessam Abou Ali opened the scoring in the 6th minute following an intercepted back pass from Portland’s Kristoffer Velde. Abou Ali skillfully navigated past defenders before placing a precise left-footed shot into the lower-right corner beyond goalkeeper James Pantemis’s reach. Portland answered quickly when Diego Chara pressured a Columbus clearance, allowing Gage Guerra’s cross to connect with Felipe Mora, who volleyed the ball past Columbus goalie Patrick Schulte in the 14th minute to level the score.
Portland then took the lead in the 20th minute. After Velde forced a turnover near midfield, Cole Bassett, recently acquired from Colorado, advanced before feeding Antony Alves Santos. Antony’s 15-yard shot found the side netting, putting the Timbers ahead 2-1. A potential third goal by Velde was disallowed for offside in the 42nd minute.
Columbus equalized just before halftime in the 44th minute when Diego Rossi fired a powerful 25-yard shot into the upper-left corner. Though Pantemis managed to get a hand on the ball, he could not prevent the goal. Abou Ali provided the assist on the play.
Second-Half Substitutions and the Decisive Late Goal
Columbus midfielder Dylan Chambost left the match with an apparent hamstring injury in the 25th minute and was replaced by Amar Sejdic. Lassiter, who entered as a substitute in the 73rd minute, made a decisive impact toward the end of the game. After Jimer Fory sent a cross from the left wing, Kevin Kelsy’s diving header deflected and dropped near the penalty spot. Lassiter, reacting swiftly, struck a left-footed shot into the net, giving Portland the winning goal.
Implications and Outlook for Both Teams
This match marked Columbus Crew’s debut under new coach Henrik Rydstrom, beginning their season with a competitive performance despite the narrow loss. For Portland, the victory provides early momentum as the team looks to build upon a strong start. Lassiter’s late goal demonstrated the effectiveness of timely substitutions and persistence in securing results in tightly contested matches.
“It felt great to come on and help the team get the win with my goal.” ?Ariel Lassiter, Forward
