USSF D-II: Portland continues streak, beats Miami

Posted Jul 11, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 11, 2010 at 12:24 PM

Portland continued its strong run of form, while St. Louis continued Montreal’s downturn with a big victory in Saturday’s USSF Division II action.

PORTLAND 2, MIAMI 0: The Timbers extended their undefeated streak to four games thanks to a pair of second-half goals against the Blues, keeping them in third place in the USL Conference, but were tested by Miami’s attack which forced Steve Cronin into seven saves to earn his fourth straight shutout.

Portland had the better of the game in the first half, but it wasn’t until the 48th minute that it took the lead when Ross Smith finished after an Alex Nimo free kick from the right. Miami pressed to try and salvage a point, Paulo Araujo Jr. recording four shots, but Cronin was up to the task. The Timbers put the game away in the 90th minute, Ryan Pore scoring his league-leading 10th goal of the season.

ST. LOUIS 3, MONTREAL 0: The Saints earned their third win of the season, and the first for new manager Dale Schilly with a strong second-half performance against the Impact.

Brought on as a substitute in the first half, Chris Salvaggione gave St. Louis the lead in the 57th minute with a bicycle kick after Anthony O’Garro’s effort was headed off the line. Five minutes later, the Saints added to their lead as Luke Kreamalmeyer finished off a four-player move.

Montreal was reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute when David Testo was shown his second yellow card, and St. Louis took advantage with a third goal six minute later, Kreamalmeyer the provider this time for Jeff Cosgriff. The Impact have now lost three straight, and are winless in their last five outings.

TONIGHT’S GAME

CAROLINA (4-2-6) AT PUERTO RICO (5-6-2): The RailHawks will be hoping to produce the same result as their last trip to the Estadio Loubriel, when they pulled out a late 2-1 victory against the Islanders on May 26.

That victory, in fact, started Carolina on their current seven-game undefeated streak which has moved them into second place in the NASL Conference. The Islanders are currently trying to make a similar move, and after a win against Baltimore on Friday night a victory would see them move off the bottom of the USL Conference before their trip to Tampa on Thursday.