PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jonathan Rodriguez scored two goals and the Portland Timbers built an early lead on the way to a 4-1 victory over Nashville on Sunday night.
Felipe Mora and Eryk Williamson also scored for the Timbers (9-8-6), who led 4-0 at the half as temperatures in Portland hovered in the 90s.
Mora scored his 10th goal of the season in the 18th minute. Rodriguez then scored two quick goals in the 21st and 24th.
Williamson added a fourth in the 29th off a pass from Santi Moreno, prompting Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to yell at his team to step up on defense.
Nashville’s Brian Anunga was handed a red card in the 35th minute for a dangerous tackle on David Ayala, and Nashville played down a man the rest of the way.
Nashville got on the scoreboard when Sam Surridge scored in the 82nd minute. It was Surridge’s team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Evander, who also has 10 goals for Portland, was suspended for the game because of yellow card accumulation. Portland coach Phil Neville was also absent from the sidelines due to yellow cards.
Nashville (6-8-8) was playing under interim coach Rumba Munthali, who took over when Gary Smith was dismissed in May. Earlier this week U.S. national team assistant B.J. Callaghan was named Nashville’s new head coach, but he won’t make his debut with the club until July 31 against Mazatlan in the Leagues Cup.
It was Nashville’s third straight loss.
Rodriguez now has 11 goals, joining Evander and Mora in double figures. It is the first time in Timbers’ history that three players have scored 10 or more goals in a single season.
