BALTIMORE, Md.
– A game-winning goal by forward Randi Patterson in second-half stoppage time led Crystal Palace Baltimore to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers at UMBC Stadium on Saturday night.
Down by a goal, Baltimore rallied late, scoring two unanswered goals inside the final 16 minutes of the match. Patterson scored his second game-winning goal in as many games and defender Andrew Marshall tallied his first of the season to help Crystal Palace Baltimore (3-4-1, 10pts) earn its first win at home in 2010.
Midfielder Ryan Pore scored his league-leading seventh goal of the season on a penalty kick attempt to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute. Pore recorded a team-high six shots, while defender Josh Cameron and midfielder Takayuki Suzuki both contributed two shots each in the losing effort for Portland (3-3-2, 11pts) - its third loss in its last four matches.
The Timbers took the lead at the hour mark. Forward Mandjou Keita was fouled hard by Marshall inside the box, which set up a penalty kick attempt for Pore. Approaching the spot, he was able to get Baltimore goalkeeper Evan Bush to dive to his left before calmly knocking the ball into the right side of the net.
A hard-working counter by Matthew Mbuta set up a corner kick for Baltimore in the 73rd minute, which led to the equalizer. Portland was able to clear the initial ball, but midfielder Dan Lader sent a follow-up cross back into the box. Marshall came slashing through and poked the ball into the back of the net to level the score at 1-1.
Momentum swung back and forth between the two sides over the final stages of the match as both pushed forward in effort to claim all three points. Baltimore would take the edge in the opening moments of second-half stoppage time.
Winning the ball at midfield, Crystal Palace Baltimore was able to get the ball to Patterson with room to attack. Once inside the box, he was able to make a slight cut inside to gain just enough space from two Timbers defenders to unload a shot into the top left corner of the goal to seal the win in the 90th minute.
The Timbers and Crystal Palace Baltimore battled through a scoreless first half. Portland held a 7-4 advantage in shots, but both sides exchanged quality chances early.
In the opening minutes of the match, Pore placed a 30 yard free kick inside the box. The ball was re-directed on frame by midfielder Brian Farber, but Baltimore goalkeeper Evan Bush was in position to make the save.
In the 20th minute, a build up down the left side drew Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin off his line. A string of quick passes set up midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake for an open look at the top of the box, but he pushed Baltimore’s best chance of the first half wide left.
A steady rain in the later stages of the first half and through the second half added a physical element to the match, but didn’t discourage either side from pushing forward.
In the 53rd minute, defender Quavas Kirk weaved a pass from the right touch through the box to midfielder James Marcelin near the top of the box. Marcelin cracked a shot on frame aimed at the top near corner of the goal, but Bush was able to get a hand on it to punch it clear.
The match grew more and more physical as the second half played out. Baltimore was issued four yellow cards in the second half, including one to Marshall for his contact with Keita, which forced the Timbers striker from the match due to injury.
The Timbers return home to play host to Argentina’s Boca Juniors in an international friendly at PGE Park on Saturday, May 29. Individual tickets start at $19 and are available at the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at
www.ticketmaster.com
or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Notes:
Saturday’s match marked the first time the Timbers conceded multiple goals to a league opponent … For a fourth consecutive game, the Timbers out-shot their opponents. Portland edged Baltimore 15-9 in shots Saturday … Suzuki made his first league start for the Timbers this season. He started 14 of his 27 appearances for the Timbers in 2009 ... Head coach Gavin Wilkinson did not travel to Baltimore due to his week-long networking and scouting trip in Ghana.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Cameron (Thompson, 90), D Kirk, D Keel, D Purdy, M Farber (Lopez, 84), M McManus, M Marcelin, M Suzuki (Nimo, 77), F Keita (Josten, 59), F Pore
BAL: GK Bush, D Veeder, D Marshall, D Teixeira, D Robson, M Yoshitake (Patterson, 45), M Lader (Nishimura, 90), M Neto (Gonzaga, 62), M Mbuta, F Brooks (Healey, 60), F Perez
Scoring Summary:
POR: Pore (penalty kick), 60
BAL: Marshall (Lader), 74
BAL: Patterson (Veeder), 90
