Despite playing a man down, Portland manages 1-1 tie
Published on July 2, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - Byron Alvarez scored his fourth goal of the season and the Portland Timbers managed to work through a man-down situation to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday night at PGE Park.
The Timbers (5-5-4, 19pts) took an early lead on Alvarez' strike and were forced to play a man short for the majority of the match when midfielder Tom Poltl drew a red card in the 23rd minute as the result of a cleats-up slide.
Jason Jordan struck for Vancouver's only goal in the 37th minute, and neither team was able to convert in the second half.
The Timbers drew first blood in the seventh minute. From 35 yards, midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar fed a through ball into the box for forward Dan Antoniuk, who corralled it and set up Alvarez for a near-post finish.
The Timbers nearly doubled their tally in the 13th minute when Antoniuk found himself unmarked in front of the goal, but he failed to get his rolling shot on target.
By the time Poltl was sent off midway through the first half, the momentum shifted as the Whitecaps (6-3-5, 23pts) went on the attack. Vancouver nearly tied the contest in the 35th when midfielder Martin Nash broke free on the wing and fed a cross to forward Ian Fuller, whose header was kick-saved by goalkeeper Josh Saunders. Jordan put his rebound header over the bar.
However, two minutes later, Jordan got it right when he put a low cross from Nash by Saunders for the equalizer. The goal was Jordan's ninth in 14 matches this season.
Despite their one-player disadvantage, the Timbers did well to dictate the pace for much of the second half, forcing Vancouver goalkeeper Josh Wicks to make three saves.
The Timbers next face the Seattle Sounders on the road on Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.
USL First Division Stories from July 2, 2005
- Despite playing a man down, Portland manages 1-1 tie - Portland Timbers
- Lady Lynx Back to Winning Ways - Toronto Lynx
- Kickers Snap Four-Game Winless Streak With Victory Over Puerto Rico - Richmond Kickers
- Charleston loses to Rochester - Charleston Battery
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