USSF D-II: Austin defeats Miami, Portland ends winless streak

Posted Jun 20, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 20, 2010 at 11:02 AM

Austin earns a convincing victory against Miami, while Portland finally earns a victory in their return match against Minnesota in Saturday’s action in the USSF Division II.

AUSTIN 3, MIAMI 1: Maxwell Griffin had a hat trick as the Aztex increased their lead at the top of the USL Conference with a dominant second-half performance against the Blues.

Griffin had given Austin the lead in the 23rd minute, but Paulo Araujo Jr. tied the game two minutes later for Miami, his fourth goal in league play. Griffin tallied twice in the second half, though, as the Aztex outshot the Blue 10-3 after the break to put themselves on 27 points, nine clear of Tampa Bay and Rochester.

PORTLAND 2, MINNESOTA 0: Ryan Pore scored his league-leading ninth goal of the season and Josh Cameron added a late insurance goal as the Timbers ended an eight-game winless streak with victory against the Stars.

Pore gave his side the lead in the sixth minute, converting from the penalty spot. Both sides had chances to find the net following that, but the second goal didn’t come until the 89th minute when Cameron scored his first goal of the season.

BALTIMORE 1, CAROLINA 1: The RailHawks earned a point through Floyd Franks’ second-half penalty, but will be disappointed they didn’t get all three points after controlling most of the contest against the Eagles.

After Carolina had dominated early, in fact, Crystal Palace Baltimore took the lead in bizarre fashion, an attempted clearance by RailHawks defender David Hayes hitting teammate Matthew Bobo and flying into their own net.  Franks converted from the spot in the 51st minute after he himself had been brought down in the penalty area, but while they pushed for a winner, Carolina would have to settle for just a point in their fifth tie of the season.