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USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

Timbers snap NSC Minnesota Stars' unbeaten streak

June 20, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - Two days after watching the NSC Minnesota Stars walk out of their home stadium with a win, the Portland Timbers turned the tables at NSC Stadium Saturday night with a 2-0 victory.

Timbers midfielder Ryan Pore converted a penalty in the sixth minute for his league-leading ninth goal of the season, and Josh Cameron scored his first goal of the season as the Timbers moved to within one point of the Stars in the USL Conference of the USSF Division 2 Pro League. The loss ended a four-match unbeaten streak for the Stars in league play and helped the Timbers to their first victory since the end of April.

"We've given up some late goals that resulted in ties and losses, so we feel like we should have a few more points on the board," Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin said after the match. "We all feel like this has been a long time coming."

It was fitting the Timbers should end a rough patch in Minnesota. Portland hasn't lost in the Twin Cities since 2003.

The game turned on the Stars with Portland's first push forward. Referee Mark Kladecik called central defender Kyle Altman for a trip just inside the penalty area in only the fifth minute, and Pore sent the Stars' Joe Warren diving the wrong way to convert from the spot. It was the first time this season Warren couldn't make a save on a penalty after stopping three in a row early in May.

"When you go down a goal early, you don't have to get it back right away," Altman said. "It's more important to regroup, settle down and get your composure back, and it took us quite a while to do that."

Despite controlling possession for much of the game after Pore's opener, the Stars struggled to create any threatening opportunities. Simone Bracalello took a shot on goal right at Cronin in the 18th minute, and Daniel Wasson saw a deflected shot from about 30 yards go just wide, but the Stars mostly struggled to break down Portland's defense.

Head coach Manny Lagos brought in Brian Cvilikas in the 70th minute, pairing him with Warren Ukah to give the Stars two big forwards to aim at in the final 20 minutes. The move nearly paid immediate dividends. Portland's defense allowed a Warren clearance to bounce, and Cvilikas rushed onto the loose ball and chipped it over Cronin's head. Unfortunately for the Stars, the shot hit the top of the crossbar and bounced out of play.

As the Stars threw men forward looking for an equalizer, they were hit instead on a counterattack in the 89th minute to effectively end the match. Cameron, on as a substitute only minutes earlier, gathered a pass with his back to goal. Despite quick pressure from the Stars' central defenders, he created enough space to get a left-footed shot off, driving the ball across his body and just inside Warren's far post.

Ultimately, Altman said, the game came down to efficiency in front of goal.

"We definitely put them under pressure," he said. "There are ebbs and flows in the game, and we didn't take advantage of ours. They did."

The Stars have little time to reflect on a disappointing loss. They host AC St. Louis in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday at 7 p.m. A victory earns them a date with the Los Angeles Galaxy a week later. The Stars will take Sunday off, leaving Lagos with just Monday to refocus his team.

"I don't think there's a lot of positives to take away from tonight. It was disappointing to our team and disappointing to our fans," Lagos said. "I think we have to look into each other's eyes, regroup and try to recover the momentum we had going into tonight."

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 20, 2010


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