Can\'t Buy A Win
July 29, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Calgary Mustangs News Release
On a night when Calgary played well enough to win, they suffered yet another heart-breaking loss in the dying minutes of the match. Alan Gordon's header in the 85th minute was the difference as the Mustangs fell to the Portland Timbers 1-0.
Calgary began brightly enough and Mesut Mert came close in the 15th minute when, after some lovely passing by the Mustangs, he unleashed a low shot that rolled wide left of the Timber's goal.
Two minutes later, Mert had another opportunity when he latched on to a deflected cross by Sergei Kolomiets-Raad, but his 20-yard volley slid wide right.
Both Calgary and Portland enjoyed good spells of possession in the first half, but neither keeper was troubled much.
Portland caused a bit of concern to the Calgary keeper, Lutz Pfannenstiel, in the 32nd minute when Alan Gordon rose above his marker to head for goal, but his attempt flew too high.
In the 37th minute, Portland's Byron Alvarez made a nice turn, but his shot from the top of the box slid just left of the post. Seconds later, Gordon again headed over after being fed by Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar.
The 42nd minute saw Calgary's Damir Jesic head a corner from Mert just wide of the right upright. Calgary claimed a push in the back as Walter Otta was shoved from behind on the play, but the ref chose to ignore the protests.
The last chance of the half came in the 44th minute, when Kolomiets-Raad was fouled 25 yards from goal. Geert Brusselers stepped up and fired the free-kick just over the bar.
HALFTIME SCORE â Calgary 0 â 0 Portland
In the 57th minute, Conrad Smith found himself onside, after a great through ball by Mert, but his blast flew wide-left of the Timber goal.
Two minutes later, a perfect feed from Jamie Auvigne found Brusselers behind the last man, but his attempt to chip Josh Saunders didn't have enough power and landed safely in Saunders' arms.
Portland's Jake Sagare fired a 30-yard well high of the mark in the 64th minute.
A miscommunication in the 65th minute nearly yielded the first goal, as the newly returned Aaron Richer failed to click with Pfannenstiel in the six yard box and Gordon managed to get a shot off that Pfannenstiel did well to get low and block.
Calgary should have taken the lead in the 68th minute, as a Conrad Smith pass found Mert clearly through, but he blasted over from 12 yards.
Three minutes later, it was Smith who had a chance at goal, as he made a fine, long run to the left corner flag, beat the Timber defender, drove toward the goal and forced a good leg save by Saunders.
Calgary's frustrations for the year were summed up in the 85th minute, as Mert's tight angle rocket from the right side clanged off the far post and rebounded straight out to a Portland defender. Portland controlled the ball and worked their way down the pitch. Shawn Saunders sent a perfect, in-swinging cross from the right side and Gordon nodded it into the far corner of the Calgary net, past a helpless Pfannenstiel.
Once again, Calgary paid for their lack of finishing and the match slipped through their fingers.
Calgary's next match will be shown live on FOX SPORTS WORLD on Friday, July 30th, as they travel to Vancouver the play the Whitecaps.
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USL First Division Stories from July 29, 2004
- Virginia Beach names new Director of Operations - Virginia Beach Mariners
- Thunder add more VIP seating for August 4 - Minnesota Thunder
- Impact beats Charleston, 2-0 - Montreal Impact
- Gordon's late goal sparks Timbers - Portland Timbers
- Can't Buy A Win - Calgary Mustangs
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