MLS Is Back Tournament: Timbers Overcome Cincy In PK Shootout; Get NYC FC In Quarterfinals

At Bay Lake, Florida:

In the final game of the MLS Is Back Tournament's Round of 16, the Portland Timbers overcame goalkeeper's Steve Clark's boo-boo to outlast FC Cincinnati 4-2 in the penalty-kick shootout after regulation ended in a 1-1 draw.

Jaroslaw Niezgoda put the Timbers on the scoreboard in the 62nd minute, only to see the aforementioned Mr. Clark foul Cincy's Jurgen Locadia in his own penalty area, enabling Mr. Locadia to convert a game-tying penalty kick in the 81st minute, forcing the PK shootout as regulation ended (with no overtime periods)

In the shootout, Diego Valeri, Felipe Mora, Sebastian Blanco, and Jaroslaw Locadia converted their spot kicks while Steve Clark recovered from his error to make a key save on Jurgen Locadia's spot kick to help preserve the Portland victory.

The Timbers will take on New York City in a quarterfinal-round match, to be contested at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this coming Saturday night at 7:30 PM Pacific Time (Fox Sports One/TUDN).

FCC Smother Timbers In Home Opener

At Cincinnati:

Kendall Waston (15'), Allan Cruz (61'), and Mathieu Deplagne (63') each scored once on Sunday as FC Cincinnati, in their first-ever Major League Soccer home game, dominated the Portland Timbers 3-0 for their first victory.

Larrys Mabiala was ejected in the 70th minute after having been shown his second yellow card, leaving the Timbers with ten men for the second straight contest.

Next up for the Timbers, a trip to Carson, California for an encounter with the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 31 (6:00 PM Pacific Time, ESPN 2).