Courtesy of the Portland Timbers
Midfielder Ryan Pore recorded a goal and an assist and forward Bright Dike turned in a two-goal performance as the Portland Timbers defeated Crystal Palace Baltimore 3-0 before 15,418 at PGE Park on Sunday.
Pore and Dike factored into all three goals for the Timbers, each scoring in the first half. The pair then teamed up early in the second half for Portland’s third goal of the night, setting up a brace for Dike and sealing the club’s 10th win of the season.
Dike has scored five goals in the last five games, Pore tallied his league-leading 14th goal of the season, midfielder Johan Claesson and defender Mamadou Danso each logged their first assists and goalkeeper Steve Cronin recorded his ninth shutout of the season as the Timbers (10-7-8, 38pts) extended their unbeaten streak to five games.
Portland remains in third place in the USL Conference and in fourth place in the overall USSF Division-2 Pro League standings, but widen their lead over the Carolina RailHawks (34pts) in fifth place.
Notes: Dike’s brace was the first multiple-game performance by a Timbers players since his hat trick in the U.S. Open Cup match against Kitsap on June 19 … DeMartin his made his first start since July 10 … The Timbers’ last seven goal have been scored by either Dike or Pore … Portland’s win over Crystal Palace Baltimore extends the club’s unbeaten streak in league games at PGE Park to six ... Timbers newcomer Kalif Alhassan made his debut with the club, entering as a sub in the second half.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Purdy (Thompson, 68), D Keel, D Danso, D Kirk, M Claesson, M McManus, M Pore (Suzuki, 67), M Savage (Alhassan, 73), F Dike (Muhamadu, 72), F DeMartin
BAL: GK Bush, D Pejic, D Marshall (Teixeira, 57), D Nishimura, D Veeder, M Robson (Sanchez, 58), M Yoshitake, M Lader, M Fusilier (Bumbut, 65), F Neto (Healy, 89), F Brooks (Mbuta, 66)
Scoring Summary:
POR: Pore (Danso), 15
POR: Dike (Claesson), 42
POR: Dike (Pore), 53
