Gabriel Pirani scores first San Diego goal in 3-1 defeat at Portland | OneFootball

Gabriel Pirani scored his first San Diego goal in MLS on Wednesday, but a 3-1 defeat at Portland Timbers at Providence Park tempered the moment.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the midfielder joined San Diego from DC United in July in an internal MLS deal using GAM, with Santos receiving no fee. The move took him from the Eastern to the Western Conference.

Pirani said he was pleased to open his account and, while disappointed by the result, stressed the focus is on working to collect points. He added he feels increasingly settled and is sure the goal will be important for his confidence as he aims to keep helping the team.

He joined DC United in July 2023 on loan from Santos, and the option to buy was exercised at the start of 2024. In that year he played 36 matches, scoring six with one assist, then followed up with eight goals and three assists in 29 games the next season.

A Santos academy graduate, Pirani made his senior debut in 2021 and featured 76 times, registering five goals and six assists. He also had a 2022 spell at Cuiabá in the Brasileiro, making 10 appearances and scoring once.

At Fluminense in 2023 he struck the winner against Flamengo to clinch the Taça Guanabara, then took part in the Campeonato Carioca campaign against the same rivals. He was part of Fluminense’s Libertadores-winning squad and ended the year with Brazil’s under-23s, winning Pan American Games gold in Santiago.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”