Calgary, Portland tie 1-1
August 8, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Calgary Mustangs News Release
Calgary, ALB- In a match that could have been won and could have been lost, Calgary settled for a 1-1 draw with the visiting Portland Timbers.
Under threatening skies, the match began slowly as the two clubs tried to measure up each other.
Calgary had the first chance of the afternoon when Sergei Kolomiets-Raad made a fine move on the touchline and cut the ball across the Portland box, but it was just behind an open Walter Otta, who was lurking 4 yards from goal.
Two minutes later the Mustangs would threaten again, as Jamie Auvigne tried a powerful left-foot shot from 25 yards, but his effort sailed wide of the right post.
Portlands first opportunity came in the 25th minute when Alan Gordon got clear on the 12 yard mark, but slid his shot just past the left upright.
Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute, on a wonderful passing build-up from Kolomiets-Raad and Mesut Mert, which resulted in Otta getting the time and space to pick his spot and drive it past Portland keeper, Josh Saunders, into the right corner of the net.
Portland tried to answer back five minutes later, when Gordon had a free header to the left of the Calgary net and forced Lutz Pfannenstiel to push the ball around the near post and into the side netting.
The 36th minute saw Calgary come close again, when Geert Brusselers close-in header was deflected wide after a fine cross by Otta.
The last chance of the half fell to Portland, as Byron Alvarez stole the ball from Calgarys Angelo Sestito at the top of the box, but his shot was fired well left of the Mustangs net.
HALFTIME SCORE: Calgary 1 0 Portland
Calgarys Steffen Holdt did a little thievery of his own in the 57th minute, as he picked the pocket of the Portland defender and rounded his marker to have a shot on goal. Unfortunately, the shot was aimed right at the chest of Saunders, who made the easy save.
After a number of Portland substitutions, the tide of the game began to swing in the Timbers favour, as the fresher legs began to threaten the Calgary defence.
Alvarez powered through the Mustangs Mike Pavicic in the 67th minute, and shot from a tight angle, but Pfannenstiel did well to get low and cover the angle and the shot rolled through the 6 yard box and away from danger.
Portlands pressure was rewarded in the 72nd minute when substitute, Fadi Afash, outjumped his marker at the far post, after a perfect cross, and headed the ball past a sprawling Pfannenstiel.
The 85th minute saw Portland nearly take the lead, when Jake Sagare found enough space to unleash a cannon from the top of the box and forced a diving save from Pfannenstiel.
Seconds later, Calgary thought they should have had a penalty kick awarded, as Otta had been sent through on the Portland goal and was brought down simultaneously by the defender and the Timbers keeper, but the referee signaled for the play to continue.
The final chance of regulation fell to Portland, but Afashs 87th minute header, from a cross by Sagare, slipped right of the post.
Overtime witnessed a similar pattern, and Portland threatened again in the 100th minute as Edwin Miranda tried his hand on a 28-yard free kick, but his attempt flew just over the bar.
Portland came close again in the 107th minute when Daniel Antoniuk managed to bring down the ball with his toe at the right of the Calgary net and drive towards goal. Pfannenstiel rushed out to cut off the angle and block the shot, but suffered a boot to the head that found him down in the pitch for a few minutes. Pfannenstiel did manage to shake off a broken nose and finish the game.
Walter Otta nearly grabbed the points for Calgary when he was played through on a nice ball by Nik Reyes, but he was bothered enough by the defender to fire his shot high and wide.
Portland would have the last chance of the match, off a corner, when Lee Morrison met a long corner and directed a header towards the top-left corner of the Calgary net. The ball sailed achingly over the crossbar.
After a bright beginning where Calgary controlled much of the first half, they were lucky to escape with a point.
The Mustangs travel to Edmonton on Tuesday to play their provincial rivals, Edmonton FC. Match time is 7:30 PM Mountain Time.
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USL First Division Stories from August 8, 2004
- Rhinos draw even with Battery - Rochester Rhinos
- Calgary, Portland tie 1-1 - Calgary Mustangs
- Timbers draw Calgary, 1-1 - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps Lose To Lynx In Toronto - Vancouver Whitecaps
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