Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Baltimore MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore continued their resurgence tonight at UMBC Stadium, coming from behind to top the visiting Portland Timbers on goals from Andrew Marshall and Randi Patterson. The win vaulted Baltimore into second place - at least for a few hours pending Vancouver’s late result - in the NASL Conference of the USSF D-2 Pro League. Palace had beaten the Timbers ten days earlier in Portland for their first win of the season. Tonight’s win leaves Baltimore with a record of 3-4-1 while Portland now stand at 3-3-2.

On a damp evening in Baltimore, the game got off to an even start with some attractive, attacking football on display, but neither goalkeeper was truly tested. Mathew Mbuta was the danger man for Palace while Ryan Pore - the league’s leading scorer - looked the biggest threat for Portland, especially from set pieces.

With no goals at half time, Palace head coach Jim Cherneski brought Randi Patterson in for Tsuyoshi Yoshitake. But it was Portland that took the attacking initiative in the early stages of the second half. Pore wasn’t far off the mark after gathering the ball from a cleared free kick attempt, while James Marcelin’s sweetly struck half-volley from the edge of the box was tipped over the cross bar by Evan Bush in the Palace goal.

In the 56th minute Andrew Marshall caught Portland forward Mandjou Keita in the face as the pair jumped for the ball in the penalty box. Keita went down and players from both teams immediately signaled for medical help. After several minutes of activity and concern around the injured player, the referee pulled Marshall aside, issued a yellow card and pointed to the penalty spot. It wasn’t until the 60th minute when Ryan Pore finally stepped up and sent Bush the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.

Mbuta was continuing to cause problems for the Timbers down the right wing and on 72 minutes his sparkling run up the touchline resulted in a corner. 18-year old Korey Veeder’s outswinger ended up with Dan Lader well outside the box. Lader hooked the ball over his shoulder back into the box and center back Andrew Marshall sprinted through the Portland defense to meet the ball on the six-yard line, firing home with conviction to bring Palace level.

The next several minutes saw the game turn into a treat for the spectators as the pace increased and the action was end-to-end - another goal seemed inevitable. Shortly after four minutes of stoppage was announced by the fourth official, right back Veeder was pressing forward and sent a ball from the halfway line through to Patterson on the edge of the box. The Trinidad and Tobago international escaped the clutches of two Portland defenders, slid the ball to his left foot and sent a curling shot towards the far post. The ball was beyond the reach of Steve Cronin in the Portland net and the ball nestled in the top left corner to seal the victory and send the Palace supporters into ecstasy.

Palace finally have a seven day break before their next match, a home clash with the league-leading Austin Aztex on Saturday May 29th at 7:00pm.

RESULT: Crystal Palace Baltimore 2 - 1 Portland Timbers (half time 0-0)

Crystal Palace Baltimore lineup
Bush, Robson, Teixeira, Marshall, Veeder, Mbuta, Neto (Lucio 62), Lader (Nishimura 90), Yoshitake (Patterson 45), Brooks (Healey 60), Perez

Goals: Marshall 74’, Patterson 90’
Cautions: Teixeira 23’, Lader 48’, Marshall 56’, Lucio 67’, Patterson 71’
Subs not used: Harrison, Basso, Fusilier

Portland Timbers lineup
Cronin, Cameron (Thompson 89), Kirk, Farber (Lopez 84), Keita (Josten 59), McManus, Keel, Marcelin, Pore, Purdy, Suzuki (Nimo 77)

Goal: Pore 60’ (pen)
Cautions: Cameron 4’
Subs not used: Pyzdrowski, Obatola, Smith

Referees
Guido Gonazlez, Ron Harnage, Dean Fairweather, Jason Blight