PORTLAND, Ore. - In the 2015 MLS season opener, the Portland Timbers drew 0-0 with Western Conference foes Real Salt Lake for the third straight time at Providence Park in league play. Here are three more #Statman takeaways from Saturday’s match.
0Adam Kwarasey became the first goalkeeper to have a shutout in his Timbers MLS debut. The Ghanaian International made two saves on the evening while also being a commanding presence on free kicks and counterattacks. He also became the seventh goalkeeper in Timbers history (all eras) to record a shutout in his club debut.
5 Making his MLS debut, second-year player George Fochive, had a game-high five tackles. With injuries to Will Johnson, Ben Zemanski, and Diego Chara in the central midfield, head coach Caleb Porter turned to the former UConn Husky Fochive, who went 86 minutes in his debut.
394 Dating back to last season, the Timbers have now shutout opponents for 394 minutes, which is a Timbers MLS record. Despite a new starting goalkeeper and center back, Portland continued its dominant defensive play limiting Real Salt Lake to just two shots on target and zero corner kicks.
