The Rochester Rhinos kicked off at PGE Stadium in Portland on Thursday night attempting to end the Timbers 24 game unbeaten streak and end their own four game winless streak.
Portland’s Mandjou Keita and George Josten worked well together putting pressure on the Rhinos backline early. The first serious threat however came from the Rhinos when Errol McFarlane’s shot in the 13th minute was cleared off the line by a Timber defender. McFarlane nearly opened the scoring in the 24th with Portland ‘keeper Steve Cronin beat, but the shot went just wide.
Portland responded with a pair of scoring chances inside the box for Mamadou Danso and Stephen keel but the two players failed to connect for an early lead. After playing on their heels early on the Timbers switched the momentum and applied some pressure of their own. Rochester’s Steve Kindel spoiled a chance for Keita who took a feed from Ryan Pore but couldn’t connect. Minutes later Scot Thompson blasted a shot from 25 yards out that just missed the upper corner.
As the second half began the Rhinos began to apply pressure and with good results. Just seven minutes into the half McFarlane had done what nobody has done this season, give an opposing team a lead at PGE Park. His shot, set up by Kindel, would find the top of the net. Minutes later McFarlane missed an open net to give the Rhinos a 2-0 lead.
The failure to add an insurance goal appeared to have been disasterous as Pore connected in the 83rd minute for his third goal against Rochester this season to even the score at one. With the two sides pushing for the game-winner heading into stoppage time it was McFarlane once again. This time he wouldn’t fail delivering the game-winner a minute into stoppage time, giving the Rhinos a 2-1 lead.
Rochester’s win snaps the Timbers 24 game unbeaten streak and pushed the Rhinos one-step closer to securing a playoff spot. They will face the Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday, September 6 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Timbers' unbeaten streak ends in loss to Rochester
portlandtimbers.com
A pair of goals from forward Errol McFarlane helped the Rochester Rhinos end the Portland Timbers USL First Division-record unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win in front of 11,683 at PGE Park on Thursday.
Scoreless at halftime, McFarlane put away the go-ahead goal in early in the second half and then delivered the game-winning strike in the 90th minute to halt the Timbers record-setting 24-game unbeaten streak.
McFarlane’s goals were his first of the season and defender Steve Kindel recorded an assist for the Rhinos (10-8-8, 38pts), who handed Portland its first league loss since April 25 and became the first USL First Division opponent to tally two goals in a single game against the Timbers in 2009.
Midfielder Ryan Pore leveled the score in the 81st minute with his seventh goal in the last eight games, goalkeeper Steve Cronin turned in five saves and defender Mamadou Danso took a team-high three shots for the Timbers (14-2-10, 52pts).
Portland remains in first place in the USL First Division, with a three-point lead and a game in hand over the Carolina RailHawks in second place.
After nearly putting away a header from 15 yards out in the first half, McFarlane capitalized on his first attempt of the second half in the 52nd minute. Off a ball played into the box by Kindel, McFarlane bounced a header around the out-stretched arms of Cronin and across the goal mouth, dodging two Timbers defenders, before finding the back of the net to give Rochester a 1-0 lead.
Pore pulled the Timbers even in the 81st minute, finishing a loose ball past Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow inside the near post. Second-half sub Rodrigo Lopez played the ball into the box before it was deflected out to Pore stationed at the top left side of the area. He blasted a low drive through a crowded box for his 10th strike of the season.
Portland, which had recorded two previous come-from-behind draws on the campaign, saw its chance at continuing the unbeaten streak fade as McFarlane capped his brace in second-half stoppage time. Fighting for a loose ball inside the box, he was able gain possession before the Timbers could clear it from danger. McFarlane slotted a shot into the back of the net to seal the 2-1 win and end the Rhinos four-game winless stretch.
The two sides played out a physical first half, with both the Timbers and Rhinos seeing their share of chances to take the lead. Portland and Rochester finished even in shots, 7-7.
Defender Scot Thompson had the best chance of the first half for the Timbers, but his blast from 25 yards out from along the right side just missed the top left corner of the frame. Midfielder Brian Farber had a similar attempt in the second half from right side that also sailed high.
The Timbers embark on their final road trip of the regular season to face the Austin Aztex on Monday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. (Pacific). It will be the first of two games between the two sides next week as Austin visits PGE Park on Thursday, Sept. 11. A live broadcast of the Timbers road match will be available on 95.5 The Game and online at www.portlandtimbers.com, with a live video webcast through USL Live – now a free service at www.usllive.com.
Notes: Thursday marked Portland’s first home loss in league play since Sept. 11, 2008 (a 2-1 result against the Charleston Battery) … The Timbers finished their season series against the Rhinos with a 2-1-0 record … Portland had conceded just four goals at PGE Park this season entering Thursday’s match … Midfielder Shaun Higgins made his first appearance since Aug. 1, coming on as a sub in the second half.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Hayes, D Keel, D Thompson, D Danso, M Farber (Nimo, 82), M McManus (Higgins, 54), M Savage (Lopez, 62), M Pore, F Keita, F Josten (Suzuki, 69)
ROC: GK Vallow, D Ball, D Bertz, D Sancho (Heins, 86), D Kindel, M Short (Nurse, 75), M Gregor, M Fitzpatrick, M Roberto, F Menyongar, F McFarlane
Scoring Summary:
ROC: McFarlane (Kindel), 52
POR: Pore, 81
ROC: McFarlane, 90