Portland Timbers Break Through with Late Winner as Bonetig Scores First MLS Goal in 1-0 Victory Over San Diego FC

Portland Timbers secured a 2-1 victory over San Diego FC on Saturday night, with Alex Bonetig scoring his first MLS goal in stoppage time to lift the team to its first away win of the season.

The match, played at San Diego FC’s home venue, saw Kevin Kelsy open the scoring for Portland in the 26th minute, pressuring San Diego captain Jeppe Tverskov into a turnover inside his own half before slaloming past defender Christopher McVey and finishing low into the bottom right corner.

San Diego FC responded before halftime when James Pantemis made a crucial save to deny Lewis Morgan, but Anders Dreyer converted a penalty kick to equalize for the home side, marking his team-lead-tying fifth goal of the season.

Portland regained the lead in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time after a corner kick delivery failed to clear the San Diego defense. Bonetig reached the ball in a scramble and powered a low finish past goalkeeper Duran Ferree from about eight yards out.

Ferree made two key interventions in the closing moments, stopping Dreyer again in stoppage time after Bonetig’s winner, but could not prevent the Timbers from holding on for the victory. James Pantemis recorded three saves in the match, including the 79th-minute denial of Morgan when the score was still tied.

The win ended San Diego FC’s club-record five-game losing streak and marked Portland’s first away points of the season after five attempts. The Timbers had previously been eliminated by San Diego in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs in a tightly contested first-round series.

San Diego captain Jeppe Tverskov departed the match in the 81st minute with an apparent injury. Portland had a chance to extend their lead in the 83rd minute when Antony missed wide on an open net after goalkeeper Duran Ferree rushed off his line prematurely outside the penalty area.