New York City are still struggling to ignite their maiden MLS campaign after a late goal from Dairon Asprilla saw Portland Timbers narrowly win at Yankee Stadium.

The Blues almost took an early lead when Patrick Mullins forced Adam Kwarasey into a flying save after he latched on to Khiry Shelton's pass.

Portland almost edged ahead just after the break when Asprilla headed the ball into Darlington Nagbe's path, but his low effort was turned away by Josh Saunders.

New York tried to forge a breakthrough themselves with 19 minutes remaining, but Mehdi Ballouchy was denied by Kwarasey.

Instead, it was the Timbers who found the back of the net when Asprilla scored his first goal of the season.

City laid siege to the Portland goal in the dying moments, with Shelton seeing two shots saved in a matter of seconds before Kwadwo Poku and Javier Calle missed the target as the visitors held on to move up to seventh in the Western Conference standings.