Portland reaches knockout stage after 2-1 win over Houston

Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri scored and Portland Timbers clinched a spot in kckout round of MLS is Back tournament with a 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

With a pair of wins to open World Cup-style tournament, Timbers have secured one of top two spots in Group F going into Thursday's match against Los Angeles Football Club.

Alberth Ellis scored on a penalty kick for Dynamo, who have one point through two matches. y would need a win over LA Galaxy on Thursday to have any hope of vancing.

Valeri's score in 61st minute t only gave Timbers breathing room, but puts him one goal away from becoming third player in MLS history to record 80-plus goals and 80-plus assists in ir career during regular season.

Valeri took a crossing pass from Eryk Williamson at top of box, shook off pressure from Houston's Aljaz Struna and placed a left-footed shot into bottom right corner. It is Argentine's third goal of season.

Dynamo pulled within a goal in 86th minute when Elis converted a penalty kick, which was awarded after Portland's Jorge Villafaña was called for a handball in box. Ellis, who has two goals in tournament, received his second yellow card of match two minutes later as Houston played a man down remainder of match.

Portland opened scoring in 35th minute when Sebastian Blanco split midfield in transition and lofted a pass to Ebobisse to left side of box. Timbers forward n beat two Houston defenders and fired a left-foot strike that eluded Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric and found bottom right corner.

It is Ebobisse's second goal in tournament and his second in five career matches against Houston.

Houston h a chance to even it three minutes later, but a wide open Elis placed it wide right in center of box after getting feed from Darwin Quintero.

Portland's Steve Clark me three saves and Maric five. Timbers h a 7-4 edge in shots on target.

Timbers opened tournament play with a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy and have won three straight this season after dropping ir opener to Minnesota. Dynamo (0-2-2) are still searching for ir first win under coach Tab Ramos, former coach of national under-20 squ.

Im credits: AP