PORTLAND, Ore.
– A first-half goal by midfielder Tony Donatelli led the defending-champion Montreal Impact to a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers before 6,573 at PGE Park on Wednesday. Portland was dealt its second loss in the last three games.
The Timbers conceded another first-half goal that would prove to be the game-winner for the visiting side. Donatelli struck in the 31st minute and the Impact (3-1-2, 11pts) endured 17 shots by the Timbers to pull out the road win and improve its unbeaten streak to five games.
Midfielders Johan Claesson and Brian Farber contributed three shots apiece and midfielder James Marcelin had a late shot hit off the crossbar in the loss for the Timbers (3-2-2, 11pts). Portland’s backline held Montreal to just five shots in the match, but surrendered its third goal in three games.
The Impact jumped on the board just past the half hour mark. Defender Stephen deRoux broke free down the left wing and connected with forward Eduardo Sebrango near the box. Sebrango quickly re-directed the ball to Donatelli on a run at the right post. He blasted a shot past Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin and under the crossbar for the go-ahead goal.
In a spirited second half, the Timbers had chances to equalize, taking 11 shots, and their best opportunities came late in the match.
In the 76th minute, defender Josh Cameron dialed in a well-placed cross from the left side for Farber on the back stick. Farber out-jumped his defender and put his head on the ball. His header just skimmed over the crossbar as it crossed back across the goal mouth.
Nine minutes from time, a free kick by midfielder Ryan Pore from 30 yards out found Marcelin inside the box. Stationed along the left post, Marcelin battled his marker for the ball in the air. His header found the crossbar near the top right corner of the frame and Montreal was able to clear away the deflection.
Portland thought it had a chance to equalize in the 68th minute, when it appeared that Montreal had committed a handball in the box. However, referee Fotis Bazakos waived the call and continued play.
The Timbers travel to face Crystal Palace Baltimore on Saturday at 4 p.m. (Pacific); it’s just their second road trip of the season. The match will air live on 95.5 The Game, with a live video webcast available at
www.portlandtimbers.com/live
.
Notes:
Montreal won its first game in Portland since Aug. 31, 2006 … Making his first career start in league play for the Timbers on Wednesday was second-year defender Josh Cameron … Both Claesson and defender Mamadou Danso left the match due to injury … After ending the month of April with a 3-0-1 record, the Timbers are 0-2-1 in May.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Kirk, D Purdy (Lopez, 85), D Danso (Keel, 36), D Cameron, M Nimo (Suzuki, 75), M Marcelin, M Claesson (Josten, 56), M Pore, F Obatola (Farber, 45), F Keita
MON: GK Djekanovic, D Aaboubou, D deRoux, D Gatti (Braz, 85), D Joqueviel, M Hemming (Testo, 72), M Di Lorenzo, M Donatelli (Donatelli, 89), M Billy, F Placentino (Soares, 77), F Sebrango (Byers, 65)
Scoring Summary:
MON: Donatelli (Sebrango), 31
Timbers Player Ratings (as submitted by members of the Portland media; scale of 1-10):
GK - Steve Cronin - 6.5, D - Quavas Kirk - 6, D – Josh Cameron – 7.5, D - Steve Purdy – 6.5, D - Mamadou Danso – 6.5, M - Johan Claesson – 6.5, M - James Marcelin – 6.5, M - Alex Nimo - 7, M - Ryan Pore - 7, F - O.J. Obatola – 6.5, F - Mandjou Keita – 7
M – Brian Farber – 7.5, M - Rodrigo Lopez – 6.5, D – Stephen Keel - 7, F – George Josten - 6.5, F – Takayuki Suzuki – 7
