USSF D-II: Minnesota earns win in Portland

Posted Jun 18, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 18, 2010 at 07:49 AM

NSC Minnesota continues Portland’s poor run of form as the Stars earned their third straight shutout in Thursday night’s USSF Division II.

MINNESOTA 1, PORTLAND 0: The Stars extended their undefeated streak to four games as Ely Allen scored the only goal of the game on a well-taken finish in the 20th minute.

Chris Clements was the provider, his angled ball into the penalty area being well controlled by Allen before he fired low into the net past Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin. The Timbers, who with the defeat are now on an eight-game winless streak, then went down to 10 men early in the second half when James Marcelin was sent off for an elbow to Brian Cvilikas.

That incident resulted in a penalty, but Cronin saved from Melvin Tarley to keep the score 1-0. Despite being down a man the Timbers looked the more likely to score in the final half-hour, Bright Dike and Alex Nimo both having good opportunities to find an equalizer, but Joe Warren made a number of good saves to record the shutout.