Portland breaks winless streak, 100,000 attendance mark
Published on August 16, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - Forward Bryan Jordan's goal in the second half sparked the Portland Timbers to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday at PGE Park. The 7,893 on hand helped the Timbers break the 100,000 mark for regular-season attendance for the first time since the club joined the USL First Division in 2001.
Jordan's third goal of the season, and third in four matches, added life to a Timbers side in the second half that led to a two-goal outburst and helped Portland out-shoot the Impact 8-4 in the second period. Forward Chris Brown also scored in the second half to help the Timbers break a seven-match winless streak and record their first win at home since April 26.
With the win, the Timbers (6-8-10, 28pts) break out of a two-way tie with the Impact in the standings and jump in seventh place in the USL First Division. The top seven clubs advance to the post season.
Entering Saturday's match against the Impact (7-10-4, 25pts), the Timbers had already set a new modern-franchise record for regular-season attendance at 99,347. But the 7,893 spectators in attendance helped the Timbers crack the 100,000 mark for regular-season attendance for the first time in eight seasons in United Soccer Leagues.
The Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute on a strike by Jordan. Defender Scot Thompson collected the ball near midfield and sent a 40 yard pass into the penalty area to Jordan just above the six yard box. Cutting back to the ball, Jordan created space and knocked in a header inside the near post for the lead. Thompson was credited with his second assist of the season.
Brown doubled the Timbers' advantage with a 30 yard strike in the 69th minute. Brown was left with space as he brought the ball up field. He worked around one defender and unloaded a shot that cruised just under the crossbar and into the back of the net for his first goal since the end of June.
Montreal nearly broke through in the 60th minute as a header by substitute Joey Gjertsen across the goal mouth rolled within a foot of the back post and out of play. Midfielder Tony Donatelli finally helped the Impactj, who out-shot the Timbers 6-3 in the first half, pull one back in the final minutes of the match. He received a cross from Sita-Taty Matondo from along the right touch line inside the box and poked in his second goal of the season in the 86th minute.
The first half featured a handful of scoring chances spoiled by great defensive efforts made by both teams. Timbers goalkeeper Brad Knighton turned away three shots on frame, including a 40 yard free kick by midfielder Sandro Grande that he punched over the crossbar. Weber challenged a breakaway by Jordan in the 15th minute and was able to force Jordan to take an extra touch and then secure a loose ball. An Impact defender also knocked a cross by Jordan to striking partner Byron Alvarez at the back post out of play forcing a Timbers corner kick.
Portland makes a trip north for their next match on Aug. 22 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium at 8 p.m. Live on Fox Soccer Channel.
USL First Division Stories from August 16, 2008
- Impact loses to Timbers - Montreal Impact
- Portland breaks winless streak, 100,000 attendance mark - Portland Timbers
- Thunder Drops Game on the Road at Rochester 3-1 - Minnesota Thunder
- Atlanta, Charleston Finish in Scoreless Tie - Atlanta Silverbacks
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