Yimmi Chara hat trick propels Timbers into CCL quarterfinals

The Portland Timbers beat CD Marathon 5-0 in Providence Park Tuesday to give the Timbers a 7-2 aggregate win.

The second leg of the Portland Timbers’ Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League clash with CD Marathon started with the Honduran side winning an early free kick. From there, the match continued at a frantic, choppy pace.

Dario Zuparic was given a yellow in the 8th minute after giving away a dangerous free kick. Portland and CD Marathon drove at each other in transition but, despite early warning signs, the Timbers took advantage first.

Darion Asprilla and Yimmi Chara proved to be a deadly partnership throughout the match. In the 18th minute, Jose Van Rankin lofted it to Asprilla, and the Colombian chipped it over his defender and sprinted into space. Asprilla dribbled down the left flank and squared to Diego Valeri. Valeri passed to Yimmi Chara — who launched the Timbers into the lead.

Y. Chara found the back of the net again a few minutes later after a stunning counter attack from the Timbers, but it was waved offside. In the 34th minute, Felipe Mora thought he had scored, but the Marathon keeper was up to the task.

Three minutes later, Y. Chara and Asprilla were at it again, as Asprilla found Y. Chara in the 18-yard box. Y. Chara finished the move, doubling the Timbers’ lead.

CD Marathon continued to cause the Timbers’ back line problems. At the end of the first half, Kevin Arriaga was left unmarked on a set piece, but couldn’t convert. Then, with the last kick of the half, Arriaga got the ball after Steve Clark misjudged a cross. Zuparic made a goal line clearance with the last kick of the half.

The Portland Timbers started the second half on the front foot, but they were unable to connect in the final third like they did in the first half.

Asprilla had a wonderful opportunity to make it 3-0 with the goal at his mercy, but CD Marathon came up with a goal line clearance of their own with a 30 minutes left in the match.

Valeri put the tie to bed in the 66th minute, scoring his 97th goal for the Timbers.

Y. Chara completed his hat trick in the 79th minute. Marvin Loria fired a shot at the Marathon goal, and the ball was spilled into the path of Y. Chara, who tapped it home. He became the second-ever MLS player to score a hat trick in a Concacaf Champions League match and the second-ever Timbers’ player to score a hat trick in the club’s MLS era.

Marvin Loria made it 5-0 in the 89th minute. Cristhian Parades found Loria over the top of the defense, and Loria slid the ball into the back of the net.

Portland Timbers FC will play the winner of CD Olimpia vs. Club America in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Champions League. The Mexican side leads the aggregate score 2-1. Club America hosts CD Olimpia tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific).