PORTLAND, Ore.
– Matthew Delicate scored the game-winning goal and former Timber Aaran Lines got the assist as the Rochester Raging Rhinos defeated the Portland Timbers 1-0 in front of 3,875 Friday night at PGE Park.
The Raging Rhinos (5-0-0, 15pts) broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when a cross from Lines found Delicate in the Timbers penalty area. Delicate collected the ball and sent it past diving Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders and into the back of the net for the 1-0 advantage.
Rochester also had an opportunity to get in front in the 24th minute when Lines sent a ball through to Connally Edozien. The striker launched a shot in-stride which sailed past Saunders and into the back of the net, but the goal was called back for offside.
Portland (1-4-1, 4pts) had a chance to open the scoring in the 59th minute after Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar was fouled 30 yards from goal. Alcaraz-Cuellar swung the ball into the penalty area and defender Michael Nsien headed the ball toward goal, but his shot missed just wide.
The Timbers also had an opportunity late in the game to try and even the score. In the 73rd minute, substitute Luke Kreamalmayer took a pass from Mamba Chisoni and quickly turned and fired a shot, but it sailed just over the crossbar and out of bounds.
During stoppage time, Delicate was shown a yellow card for taking down Nsien. On the free kick, Mike Randolph sent a cross into the Rhinos’ penalty box where Alcaraz-Cuellar got a head on the ball, but it was off the mark and easily grabbed by goalkeeper Scott Vallow.
The Timbers return to action on Sunday when they host the Toronto Lynx. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at PGE Park.
HEAD COACH CHRIS AGNELLO ON THE MATCH:
“We had 90 minutes to play and we played well for 89 minutes and 50 seconds tonight, but we had 10 seconds of letdown. I thought that, in the first half, the team played very well. Even in the second half, I thought it was something the players should be proud of, with the exception of the defensive lapse that allowed the goal.”
“I think we’re about five minutes from being a good team, though. We came within five minutes of getting a good result in Miami last weekend, and excluding the brief defensive mistake tonight, we played well enough to deserve a result tonight too. We still have work to do, but I’m confident that we’ll get the team where it needs to be very soon.”
NOTES:
Timbers defender Scot Thompson had to wear a gauze headband to protect the five stitches above his left eye … midfielder Edwin Miranda missed the game due to a thigh strain … Rochester has allowed only one goal in five matches this season.
SCORING SUMMARY:
POR: None; ROC: Delicate 62’ (Lines).
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
POR: Chisoni YC (25’); ROC: Kramer YC (26’), Lewis YC (37’), Delicate YC (90’).
LINEUPS:
ROCHESTER (5-0-0) S. Vallow GK, R. Lewis D, K. Bertz D, C. Edezien F, G. Howes M, J. Menyongar F, F. SanFillipo D, A. Lines M, S. Paleota D, D. Kramer M (Ball 82’), N. Dombrowski M (Delicate 45’).
PORTLAND (1-4-1) J. Saunders GK, J. Goodfellow D, L. Morrison M, H. Alcaraz-Cuellar M, A. Gutierrez M, B. Alvarez F, M (Kreamalmeyer 65’). Randolph D, S. Thompson D, M. Chisoni M, C. Bartlome F (O. Bullen 87’). M. Nsien D.
