Charleston cuts down Timbers 2-0

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former Timbers forward Byron Alvarez helped the Charleston Battery end Portland’s seven-game winning streak as the Timbers fell 2-0 to the Battery Sunday night at Blackbaud Stadium.

Portland (11-3-3, 36pts), who played its fifth match in nine days and its second in two nights, suffered its first loss since June 9 in a 2-1 loss to the Rochester Raging Rhinos but remain on top of the USL First Division.

Alvarez, the Timbers’ all-time leading scorer, put Charleston (6-8-5, 23pts) ahead for good in the 26th minute when he ran through the center of the Timbers defense before slotting home his league-best eighth goal of the season.

Timbers forward Bryan Jordan, who entered the match as a second half substitute, was issued two yellow cards in a 20-minute span and was sent off in the 66th minute allowing the Battery to finish the match with a one-man advantage.

With an extra man, Charleston midfielder Luke Vercollone doubled the Battery lead in the 76th minute, knocking home a rebound for his first goal of the season.

Portland returns home for the The Oregonian Timbers vs. Preston North End Exhibition presented by Widmer at PGE Park on July 28. The Timbers will play host to the Atlanta Silverbacks in USL First Division action on Thursday at PGE Park at 7 p.m.

Notes: Charleston’s win was their first in league win in nearly a month …  Portland was outshot 10-4 in the match … Alvarez played for the Timbers from 2003-2006 scoring 41 goals and recording 91 points … The Timbers were shut out for only the third time this season.

Lineups:
CHS: GK Hudock, D Rolko, D Karalexis, D Nylen, D Corcoran, M Vercollone, M Alavanja, M Richardson (Romero, 73), F Chin, F Fuller (Hughes, 14), F Alvarez

POR: GK Elfvin, D Morrison (Jordan, 45), D Knowles, D Griffin, D S. Thompson, M Gregor, M Poltl, M Higgins, M Hague, M Dombrowski (Olum, 70), F Bagley (Lara, 45)

Scoring Summary:
CHS: Alvarez, 26
CHS: Vercollone, 75