CLARKSTON, Ga.
– Dan Antoniuk struck for two goals as the Portland Timbers hung on to beat the Atlanta Silverbacks on the road Sunday evening at DeKalb Memorial Stadium.
The win propelled the Timbers (8-8-8, 32pts) into sixth place in the league table past Atlanta, Puerto Rico and Charleston in the race for the postseason.
Antoniuk got the Timbers first goal of the road trip on a corner kick from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar in the 28th minute.
The Portland midfielder increased his assist total to a league-leading 10, tying his career high from the 2004 regular season.
Antoniuk added a second goal on a penalty kick in the 52nd, giving the Timbers a lead they never relinquished.
The goals gave Antoniuk numbers seven and eight on the season, good for the team lead in goals and points (18).
The Silverbacks (9-13-3, 30pts) got one back in the 74th minute on a free kick from David Hayes.
The Timbers continue their Southern swing Friday, Sept. 2, against the Virginia Beach Mariners at Virginia Beach Sports Complex.
TIMBERS NOTES:
The Timbers will spend the week training in Virginia Beach in preparation for another back-to-back set of road games beginning with Virginia Beach on Sept. 2, and ending with the Richmond Kickers on Sept. 3 … Antoniuk and Sliverback Tony McManus were both issued red cards for an altercation late in the second half.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Antoniuk, 28’ (Alcaraz-Cuellar); Antoniuk, 52’ (PK); Hayes, 74’ (UA).
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
POR Goldthwaite, YC (39’), Antoniuk RC (80’); ATL DeLima, YC (6’), McManus, RC (80’).
LINEUPS:
PORTLAND (8-8-8) Saunders GK, Goldthwaite D, Morrison D, Thompson D, Lines D, Alcaraz-Cuellar M, Higgins M, Winters M, Miranda M (Poltl 84’), Antoniuk F, Alvarez F (Afash, 77’); ATLANTA (9-13-3) Barton GK, de la Torre D (Stone 71’), Hayes D, DeLima D, Plute D (Peoples 76’), Lowery M (Pineda-Chacon 45’), McManus M, Murriagui M (Brooks 60’), Ilarionov M (Millwood 58’), Dawkins F, Rios F.
