PORTLAND, Ore.
- Alan Gordon fired up Timber Jim’s chainsaw and cut a slice off the victory log as an encore to his hat trick performance, leading the Timbers to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Wave United before 4,067 fans Saturday night at PGE Park.
Five minutes into overtime, Gordon beat his defender, took a leading pass from Scott Benedetti and found the back of the net for the “golden goal” and the 3-2 win.
Facing a 2-0 deficit at the half, Gordon charged the Timbers’ attack in the 65th minute, taking a cross from Shawn Saunders and heading it into the left side of the net to slice the lead in half for the home side.
Gordon scored the equalizer in the 85th, heading in another ball-this time from Jake Sagare for his second goal of the match.
The hat trick gave Gordon five goals in his last two games and six on the year.
The Timbers are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, dating back to the mid-1970s.
Portland had several chances to close out Milwaukee in the waning minutes of regulation, including a penalty kick by Alex Bengard that bounced off the crossbar. Gordon followed up with a point-blank shot that caused Milwaukee goalkeeper Jim Larkin to make a key save to force overtime.
Earlier on, the Wave United (0-3-1, 1pt) went up a goal in the 15th minute when Todd Dusosky headed in a cross by former Timber Greg Howes.
Dusosky had a good shot to add another goal three minutes later, but his shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Johnny Torres spotted Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in the 50th, soaring a free kick past goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
The Timbers’ best opportunity in the first half came in the 42nd, as Byron Alvarez’ header missed wide right.
Portland maintained its late surge before halftime, getting several touches inside the Milwaukee box, but could not cash in to equalize.
Next up for the Timbers is a trip to Charleston, where they’ll take on the defending-champion Battery on Friday, June 4. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. (Pacific) and the match will be televised live on Fox Sports World. Portland will travel to Atlanta the next day for a match with the Silverbacks.
TIMBERS NOTES:
One lucky fan won a party suite as part of the halftime tennis ball toss … the next home match for the Timbers is Thursday, June 10 vs. Edmonton and will feature “Bark in the Park,” a promotion that allows free entry for every human attending the game with each paying canine … Gordon’s hat trick was the first for the Timbers since Byron Alvarez’ three-goal performance on July 3, 2003 vs. Vancouver … Saturday’s match was the first overtime the Timbers have faced this season … when the Timbers fell behind 2-0, it was largest deficit the Timbers have faced all season … it was also the first time in 2004 Portland goalkeeper Josh Saunders has given up more than one goal in a match.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Todd Dusosky, 15’ (Howes); Torres, 50’ (UA); Gordon, 65’ (S. Saunders); Gordon, 85’ (Sagare); Gordon, 96’ (Benedetti).
PENALTY SUMMARY:
POR Gordon, YC (7’); MIL Dombrowsi, YC (56’).
LINEUPS:
MILWAUKEE (0-3-1) Larkin GK, Dombrowsi D, Lawrence D, Hammes D (Reti 90’), Troy Dusosky D, Walls M (Wagenfuhr 69’), Marcantonio M, Schmidt M, Howes M, Todd Dusosky F (Morman 45’), Torres F; PORTLAND (5-0-0) J. Saunders GK, Morrison D, Wilkinson D, Heinzen D, S. Saunders D, Benedetti M, Bengard M, Alcaraz-Cuellar M, S. Saunders M, Sagare M, Gordon F, Alvarez F.
