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Youth College AdultProHigh School Editorial

Crystal Palace Baltimore shut out by Portland 3-0

29 Aug, 2010

The third time was not the charm for Crystal Palace Baltimore Sunday night, as the Portland Timbers ended Palace’s two-game winning streak against the Oregon club, winning by a comfortable 3-0 margin in front of more than 15,000 fans at PGE Park.

The Timbers started out with aggressive play in the first five minutes, as Bright Dike’s turn and shot inside the box rolled just past the left post of Evan Bush. Moments later, Douglas DeMartin’s header off of a corner kick sailed over the crossbar. Portland nearly had their first goal in the 11th minute, as Dike received a nice pass from Johan Claesson. With no one but Bush to beat, Dike got little power on his touch, enabling the Baltimore goalkeeper to pounce on the ball.

Portland was able to strike on the quarter hour with a goal from Ryan Pore. After Korey Veeder missed an opportunity to clear the ball out of his own end, Quavas Kirk gathered the ball and found Pore, who directed a shot into the lower right corner for his league-leading 14th goal of the season.

Gary Brooks had two of Palace’s best opportunities to even the score. On 26 minutes, his shot from the edge of the box sailed inches above the crossbar, albeit from an offside position. With four minutes to go in the half, Brooks showed his skill by attempting an overhead bicycle kick, but his effort went well wide of Portland netminder Steve Cronin.

The Timbers doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute, as a pass from Claesson found Dike, who made a long run to the 18-yard box.

After moving past Dan Lader and Andrew Marshall, Dike unleashed a left-footed shot. Evan Bush was only able to get his fingertips to the ball, and the ball hit the top-left corner of the net to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Nine minutes after the restart, Dike would notch his second of the evening, as he blasted a low shot past Bush to give the Timbers a three-goal cushion. Baltimore started to show their frustration later in the half, as Korey Veeder, Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, and Santiago Fusilier all picked yellow cards within a ten-minute span.

Baltimore was unable to produce any real threat at the Portland goal towards the end of the match. A nice backheel pass from Yoshitake found substitute Adrian Bumbut in the 71st, but his effort was blocked by the Timbers defense. Mathew Mbuta’s header off a cross from Takuro Nishimura was directed straight at Cronin three minutes from time.

Portland’s win improves their record to 10-7-8, while Baltimore slips to 6-13-6. Baltimore remains four points adrift of the playoff places with just five games remaining.

RESULT: Portland Timbers 3 - 0 Crystal Palace Baltimore (Half time: 2 - 0)

LINEUPS:
POR - Cronin, Kirk, Keel, Danso, Purdy (Thompson 68’), Savage (Alhassan 74’), Claesson, Pore (Suzuki 68’), McManus, DeMartin, Dike (Muhamadu 73’)

BAL - Bush, Veeder, Pejic, Marshall (Teixeira 58’), Nishimura, Fusilier (Bumbut 66’), Yoshitake, Robson (Sanchez 59’), Lader, Neto (Healey 90’), Brooks (Mbuta 67’)

GOALS:
POR - Pore 15’
POR - Dike 42’
POR - Dike 54’

CAUTIONS:
BAL - Veeder 55’
BAL - Yoshitake 56’
BAL - Fusilier 65’
BAL - Sanchez 71’
BAL - Veeder 88’ (sent off)
POR - Danso 89’

ATTENDANCE:15,418

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