Home / Sports / Timbers Force Rubber Match in Dramatic Penalty Shootout Win
Timbers Force Rubber Match in Dramatic Penalty Shootout Win
3 Nov
Summary
- Timbers beat expansion side San Diego FC in penalty shootout
- Gage Guerra scored late equalizer to send game to penalties
- Dos Santos injured in collision, replaced by Sisniega
On November 5, 2025, the Portland Timbers faced off against expansion side San Diego FC in a crucial MLS Cup playoff match. The Timbers struck first, with Kristoffer Velde scoring in the 18th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. However, disaster struck five minutes later when San Diego's dos Santos collided with a Timbers player and had to be taken off the field by stretcher.
Substitute goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega replaced dos Santos, and Amahl Pellegrino scored the equalizer for San Diego in the 12th minute of stoppage time. Hirving "Chucky" Lozano then gave San Diego a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute, but the Timbers refused to give up. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Gage Guerra headed in the equalizer to send the game to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Antony Alves Santos scored the winner for the Timbers after Jeppe Tverskov hit the crossbar for San Diego. The series will now return to San Diego on November 9 for the finale, with the Timbers looking to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup.
