Da Costa Nets Winner In His First Timbers Start, Portland Beats Austin FC 1-0
750 The Game Staff
New DP signing David da Costa scored the game-winning goal from a set piece in the 89th minute to boost Portland past Austin FC on Saturday night, 1-0.
Da Costa was making his first start as a Timber after he came on as a substitute in the season-opening defeat to Vancouver when Portland played short-handed the majority of the match.
Portland improves to 1-1-0 (3 points) to start the season. They continue MLS action on Sat. March 8th visiting Nashville SC on 750 The Game and MLS Season Pass. Pregame coverage starts at 4:30 p.m. with kickoff at 5:30 p.m. from the Music City.
More from Portland Timbers media release:
TIMBERS SHUT OUT AUSTIN FC IN 1-0 WIN AT PROVIDENCE PARK
David Da Costa scores game-winning goal, Portland notches first clean sheet of the season
PORTLAND, Ore. – With an 89th minute game-winning goal from Portland’s newest Designated Player David Da Costa, the Portland Timbers downed Austin FC in a 1-0 shutout win on Saturday night to tally their first win of the season. Next week, Portland will travel for its first road match of the season against Nashville SC on Saturday, March 8.
A Night of Firsts
Tonight’s match was Portland’s first win of the season (1-1-0) and midfielder David Da Costa scored his first MLS goal in his first start for the Timbers tonight. Notably, Da Costa’s goal came as a game-winning goal in the 89th minute. Portland tallied its first clean sheet of the season. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made his first appearance of the season tonight and defender Ian Smith registered his first start of the season.
Green > Verde
Tonight’s match marked the 10th all-time matchup between Portland and Austin, with the Timbers leading the series 6-3-1 and 3-1-1 when playing at Providence Park. The Timbers have gone unbeaten in seven of their last eight matches against the Texan side (6-1-1). In that stretch, Portland has outscored Austin 13-5 and has kept four clean sheets. Notably, tonight’s clean sheet was goalkeeper James Pantemis’ second against Austin FC (May 29, 2024, March 1, 2025).
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – David Da Costa, 89th minute: Off a free kick near the left-side of the 18-yard box, David Da Costa shot and curled the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Notes
- Tonight’s match was Portland’s first win of the season (1-1-0).
- The Timbers are 6-3-1 when playing against Austin FC and 3-1-1 when playing at Providence Park.
- Newly signed Designated Player David Da Costa scored his first MLS goal tonight.
- Notably, Da Costa’s goal came as a game-winning goal in the 89th minute of the match.
- Tonight’s win marked Portland’s first clean sheet of the season.
- James Pantemis recorded his first appearance of the season and 16th (15 starts) with the Timbers.
- Pantemis registered four saves tonight.
- Notably, it was Pantemis’ sixth clean sheet with Portland, and second against Austin FC (May 29, 2024, March 1, 2025).
- David Da Costa, Ariel Lassiter, Ian Smith and James Pantemis recorded their first starts of the season tonight.
Next Game
The Timbers will travel to their first match on the road when they take on Nashville SC on Saturday, March 8 at Geodis Park. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (1-1-0, 3pts) vs. Austin FC (1-1-0, 3pts)
March 1, 2025 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 0 0 0
Portland Timbers 0 1 1
Austin FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Da Costa, 89
Misconduct Summary:
POR: McGraw (caution), 39
ATX: Pereira (caution), 44
POR: Antony (caution), 53
POR: Fory (caution), 55
POR: Ortiz (caution), 64
POR: Paredes (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Fory, D McGraw, D Surman, D Smith, Ayala (Paredes, 82), M Da Costa (Bravo, 90+3), M Ortiz (Chara, 66), F Antony, F Lassiter (E. Miller, 82), F Mora (Kelsy, 66)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Muse, F Linhares
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Da Costa, Mora, 1); FOULS: 9 (Fory, Surman, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
ATX: GK Stuver, D Biro D Cascante (Svatok, 42), D Desler, D Hines-Ike, M Bukari, M Obrian (Uzuni, 62), M Bukari (Gallagher, 82), M Sánchez (Sabovic, 62), F Vázquez, F Wolff (Dubersarsky, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Cleveland, D Kolmanic, F Fodrey, F Rubio
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Vazquez, 3) SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Vazquez, 2); FOULS: 15 (Pereira, Vazquez, 2); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 0
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 20,032
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.