RECAP | Portland Timbers lose 2-1 on the road to Chicago Fire FC

Finn Surman scores his first in Green-and-Gold; Timbers return home to face San Diego FC on Aug. 19

CHICAGO – Playing their third game in a week, the Portland Timbers (7-9-3, 24pts) dropped a 2-1 result to Chicago Fire FC (10-6-2, 32pts) on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

Finn Surman scored his first goal in Green and Gold late in the match to cut the host’s early two-goal lead in half, however the Timbers were unable to complete the comeback. It marks Portland’s first loss since returning from the summer international break, going 3-1-1 over that period.

The Timbers face a quick turnaround as they host San Diego FC on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Providence Park.

Sunday’s Notables

Timbers defender Finn Surman scored his first-ever goal for Portland, marking the Kiwi’s second goal contribution of the season. Brandon Bye provided the headed assist on Surman’s goal. It comes as Bye’s third assist and fourth goal contribution in his first season in Portland. Ariel Lassiter registered his fourth assist of the campaign in the buildup to Portland’s goal. Notably, it’s his sixth goal contribution (2G, 4A) in just 457 minutes played. Additionally, Lassiter reached nine goal contributions (5G, 4A) across all competitions for the Timbers, including six contributions (3G, 3A) since Portland returned to action on July 16.

Goal-Scoring Plays

CHI – Robin Lod (Andrew Gutman, Dje D’Avilla), 9th minute: Robin Lod received a long pass in stride and fired a left-footed shot into the left netting from inside the box.

CHI – Dje D’Avilla (Maren Haile-Selassie), 14th minute: Dje D’Avilla finished a right-footed shot from outside the box through traffic into the near post.

POR – Finn Surman (Brandon Bye, Ariel Lassiter), 85th minute: Ariel Lassiter delivered a set piece towards the far post, where Brandon Bye rose above his defender to head the ball into the six-yard box. Finn Surman got to the ball and headed it into goal from close range.\\

Notes

• The Timbers (7-9-3, 24pts) are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference following today’s result.
• Today’s match was Portland’s third competitive game in an eight-day span.
• Portland suffered its first MLS defeat returning from the summer international window.
• It marks the Timbers first loss away to Chicago in their MLS history (1-1-3).
• Since returning from the June break, Portland has earned points in four of their five league matches contested (3-1-1), and six of their eight games across all competitions (5-2-1).
• Finn Surman scored his first-ever goal for the Timbers.
• It marks the New Zealand international’s second goal contribution for Portland this season.
• Brandon Bye recorded an assist in the Timbers’ lone goal.
• Bye has registered a goal contribution in back-to-back MLS matches (1G, 1A) for the first time since the 2022 season with New England.
• With his performance, Bye reached three assists and four goal contributions thus far in his first MLS season in Green and Gold.
• Ariel Lassiter registered his fourth assist of the season.
• Lassiter has notably recorded six goal contributions (2G, 4A) in just 457 minutes played this MLS campaign.
• The Costa Rican international reached nine goal contributions (5G, 4A) across all competitions for Portland this year.
• Notably, six of his nine contributions have come since returning from World Cup break (8 apps., 7 starts).
• Both Bye and Lassiter have combined twice in the last five matches to deliver goal-scoring passes for Portland, last doing so at Seattle on July 16.

Next Game

The Timbers return home for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, Aug. 19, against San Diego FC. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7:30pm PT on Apple TV in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 105.1 FM/1080 AM The Fan (English) and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150AM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (7-9-3, 24pts) vs. Chicago Fire FC (10-6-2, 32pts)

August 16, 2026 – Soldier Field (Chicago, Ill.)

Scoring Summary:
CHI: Lod (Gutman, D’Avilla), 9
CHI: D’Avilla (Haile-Selassie), 14
POR: Surman (Bye, Lassiter), 85

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Bye (caution), 51
CHI: Lod (caution), 57
CHI: Salétros (caution), 79
POR: Janssen (caution), 90+4

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Bye, D Surman, D K. Miller (Fernandez, 88), D Fory, M Bassett (Ortiz, 61), M Chara © (Caicedo, 76), M Da Costa (Janssen, 76), F Antony (Lassiter, 61), F Kelsy, F Velde

Substitutes Not Used: GK Muse, D E. Miller, D McGraw, F Guerra

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Velde, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Surman and Antony, 1); FOULS: 6 (Antony and Bye, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2

CHI: GK Brady, D Barroso (Dean, 72), D Elliot ©, D Rogers, D Gutman, M Salétros (Pineda, 82), M Lod, M D’avilla, F Zinckernagel (Dithejane, 60), F Haile-Selassie, F Lewandowski (Bamba, 60)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Cohen, D Radojevic, D Waterman, D Cupps, M Poreba

TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Lewandowski and Lod, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Lod, 2); FOULS: 15 (Lod, 5); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 1

Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Gerard-Kader Lebuis, Jason White
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Daniel Radford
Attendance: 30,168

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.