Montreal Impact 2, Portland Timbers 1 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Take a bow, Orji Okwonkwo.

On Wednesday evening at Stade Saputo, the 21-year-old forward scored a pair of splendid goals to lift the Montreal Impact to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers. 

Playing their first game in three weeks, the Impact dominated the first half after kickoff was pushed back 45 minutes due to a weather delay. Okwonko hit the post in the 21st minute before opening the scoring seven minutes later, firing one into the upper corner after putting a great first touch on an over-the-top ball from Bacary Sagna.

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The Timbers — who trotted out a young and mostly untested lineup amidst a four-games-in-11-days stretch — showed signs of life coming out of halftime with 21-year-old midfielder Tomas Conechny netting his first MLS goal.

But Okwonkwo sealed the win for the Impact with a brilliant spin-and-volley golazo in the 66th minute, exiting to huge cheers three minutes later.

Goals

• 28' – MTL – Orji Okwonkwo WATCH
• 53' – POR – Tomas Conechny WATCH
• 66' – MTL – Orji Okwonkwo WATCH

Three Things

• THE BIG PICTURE: The Impact did enough to get three points and remain on solid footing near the top of the Eastern Conference. The Timbers, meanwhile, shouldn’t be too upset about the result, considering the average age in their starting lineup was 24 with several key players left at home to rest and Modou Jadama and Eryk Williamson earning their first MLS starts.

• MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Both of Okwonkwo’s goals were perfectly placed blasts, but his second was absolutely stunning. And it proved to be the difference in the match.

  Okwonkwo's second goal of the night was 🔥. #MTLvPORpic.twitter.com/WXv1oX54rh

  — Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 27, 2019

• MAN OF THE MATCH: No doubt about this one. The night belonged to Okwonkwo, who doubled his scoring output on the season and gave Montreal fans a lot to smile about.

Up Next

• MTL: Saturday, June 29 at Atlanta United (6 pm ET | TVAS, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US)
• POR: Sunday, June 30 vs. FC Dallas (11 pm ET | UniMas, Twitter, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)