TUCSON, Arizona -- After a recent training session, Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter pulled Lucas Melano aside to tell the young Argentine winger just how pleased he was with the 22-year-old's performance in the early days of preseason.

The Timbers have been training for less than two weeks, but Porter has already noticed a marked change in both Melano and Colombian winger Dairon Asprilla.

Both players are competing with confidence and ease.

"They know their teammates and they just look comfortable, really comfortable in preseason," Porter said. "I think they've been outstanding."

On Wednesday night, the Timbers looked incredibly dynamic in the attack in the first half of a preseason game against the Houston Dynamo at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, thanks in large part to the performances of Asprilla and Melano.

Asprilla scored Portland's first goal of the 2016 preseason in the 38th minute, taking advantage after Houston defender DaMarcus Beasley slipped to fire a beautiful shot inside the far post and give Portland the 1-0 lead. The Timbers went on to draw Houston 1-1.

"With the pace and penetration that we get from Melano and Asprilla wide, we really open up those gaps central," Porter said. "We're able to attack in a variety of ways, which makes us difficult to manage."

Both Melano and Asprilla looked very poised alongside their Timbers teammates in Wednesday's game, something that will be critical for the two wingers as they take over full-time starting roles for the Timbers this season.

"Melano and Asprilla will be our starters," Porter said. "They showed last year they can do that. At the end of the year, they were outstanding."

Asprilla joined the Timbers ahead of the 2015 season, while Portland signed Melano as a designated player last July. While the Timbers saw immense potential in both of their young wingers, it took time for Asprilla and Melano, neither of whom spoke any English when they arrived in Portland, to adjust to their new team, new country and new league.

Asprilla earned a spot in the starting 11 early in 2015 and immediately showed talent on the field. He scored his lone goal of the regular season to lead the Timbers to victory over New York City FC in April, celebrating the game-winner with a back flip.

But Asprilla's play, especially on defense, was inconsistent early in the year and the Colombian winger found himself on the bench by mid-summer.

"I think it was a learning year last year," said Asprilla, through an interpreter. "It was certainly a difficult time at the beginning, but thanks to the support of friends and family, I was just able to maintain that good spirit and just stay focused on the season."

Melano made his highly-anticipated debut for the Timbers just eight days after arriving in Portland in July. The expectations were high. The Timbers had paid a $5 million transfer fee to bring Melano to Portland and the 22-year-old was earning about $800,000 a year, according to the MLS Players Union.

It was immediately clear why the Timbers had thought so highly of the Argentine winger. Melano showed speed and a knack for getting behind opposing defenses. But the winger had trouble converting his shots, an issue that prompted Porter to remove Melano from the starting 11 in a few games toward the end of the regular season.

"At the end of last year, I was a little upset with myself because I had a lot of opportunities to score and things were just not going my way," said Melano, through an interpreter. "This year, my goal is to just continue working hard and I'm looking forward to getting more of those opportunities and being able to score."

Despite the early struggles, both Melano and Asprilla grew in confidence in 2015, something that was clear in the playoff run.

Asprilla recorded the game-tying assist in extra time to send Portland's knockout round match against Sporting Kansas City to penalty kicks. Asprilla also scored a wonder goal in the conference finals against FC Dallas, curving a beautiful shot from distance into the far corner of the net.

"This year, I'm very confident in my abilities and my work," Asprilla said. "I'm just going to continue working hard, just trying to earn my positon in the team."

Melano made his mark in stoppage time of the second leg of the conference finals against FC Dallas when he scored off a beautiful run to put the series out of reach. He then recorded the game-winning assist in the MLS Cup final as the Timbers went on to win their first-ever MLS Cup.

While the Timbers are still planning to sign another player ahead of the 2016 season to replace outgoing winger Rodney Wallace, who made the decision to sign with Portuguese side FC Arouca, Porter said he expects Melano and Asprilla to win out the starting jobs on the wings.

Fans had a chance to get a glimpse of Melano and Asprilla's potential in 2015, but the club is expecting even more out of their two wingers this season.

Melano and Asprilla are ready to live up to those expectations.

"I'm really confident," Melano said. "I feel really good about this season."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg