PORTLAND
, Ore.
– Behind a two-goal performance by forward Mandjou Keita, the Portland Timbers extended their USL First Division-record unbeaten streak to 23 games with a 3-1 victory over the Miami FC Blues Saturday in front of 13,845 at PGE Park. With the win, the Timbers clinched a spot in the postseason.
In addition to his two goals, Keita logged his team-leading sixth assist of the season, midfielder Ryan Pore scored in his sixth consecutive game and midfielder Keith Savage recorded two assists to lead the first-place Timbers (14-1-9, 51pts) to their fifth straight win.
Defender Tim Merritt scored his first of the season for the Blues (7-11-4, 25pts), who dropped their third straight match. Miami was reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute, when Walter Ramirez was sent off with a straight red card following a hard challenge at midfield.
Aside from a couple of early chances by the Blues, the Timbers dictated the tempo of the match and held a 19-7 advantage in shots.
Kieta, who took a game-high five shots, put the Timbers on the board in the final minute of the first half. A build up down the left side created space for Savage at the top of the box. With a slight touch, Savage redirected the ball into space for Keita on the right side. Keita crushed a low drive into the back of the net past Miami goalkeeper Kenny Schoeni.
Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin recorded both of his saves in the first half on shots by Blues newcomer Tristan Bowen, including a blast in the early going from the top of the box which Cronin tapped over the crossbar.
The Timbers looked to put the Blues under pressure early in the second half as substitutes Brian Farber and Takuro Nishimura both delivered shots from around the box that just missed the target within the first eight minutes of the period.
With a one-man advantage, the Timbers had a flurry of activity in the box in the 76th minute. Off a corner kick by defender David Hayes, Keita and Farber each had shots blocked inside the penalty area. Farber’s follow-up attempt was saved off the goal line by Miami defender Chris Williams.
But it was the Blues, down a man, who leveled in the 77th minute on a strike by Merritt. A corner kick from the left side fell to the ground inside the box. Off the bounce, Merritt converted the loose ball past Cronin for his first strike of the season. It was just the fourth goal allowed at home this season by the Timbers in league play.
The Timbers answered right back. Savage, on a hard-working run down the right side, fed a low cross into the near post for Keita on a run through the box. Keita re-directed the ball into the back of the net for second of the night and his league-leading 11th goal of the season.
Pore sealed the 3-1 win in second half stoppage time with his ninth goal of the season. The ball was played down the left touch for Keita, who then chipped a cross into the mix from just outside the box. Pore was left all alone on the back and unloaded a shot from 14 yards out for the insurance strike.
Portland heads east for another top-of-the-table clash with the Charleston Battery on Friday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. (Pacific). The matchup against the Battery will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel as part of the USL First Division Game of the Week series. A live broadcast will also be available online at
www.portlandtimbers.com
.
Notes:
Keita has recorded four goals and four assists over his last four games … Portland finished its 2009 season series against Miami with a 2-0-1 record … The Timbers have a six point lead over the second-place Battery in the USL First Division standings … The top seven teams in the USL First Division advance to the postseason.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Hayes, D Keel, D Thompson (Nishimura, 45), D Danso, M McManus, M Nimo (Farber, 45), M Savage, M Pore, F Keita, F Josten (Suzuki, 45)
MIA: GK Schoeni, D Williams, D Agbossoumoude, D Tsiskaridze (Kirby, 87), D Ramirez, M Faife, M Goldberg, M Pizarro, M Torres (Merritt, 45), F Marcina, F Bowen
Scoring Summary:
POR: Keita (Savage), 45
MIA: Merritt, 77
POR: Keita (Savage), 81
POR: Pore (Keita), 90
