August 7, 2004 - EDMONTON - The Edmonton Aviators faced a tough Portland Timbers team that ran out as convincing winners on a cold saturday afternoon, defeating the home side 4 goals to one.
Edmonton utilized their normal system of Nic Stankov minding the twine, Chris Devlin, Robin Hart and Simon Kassaye helping on defense, Paul Dahliwal, Gordon Chin, Eric Munoz, Nicola Vignjevic and Sean Fraser in the midfield and Sipho Sibiya and Fred Akok up front.
Portland also went with a 3-5-2 formation using Josh Saunders in goal, David Henning, Scott Thompson and Gavin Wilkinson on defense, Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Scott Benedetti, Alex Bengard, Edwin Miranda and Jake Sagare in midfield and Byron Alvarez and Alan Gordon as the point men.
The Timbers took control of the game early and never looked back. Particularly impressive was Alcaraz-Cuellar who pressured the Edmonton defense very effectively, taking advantage of a not 100% Devlin on Edmonton's left flank. Devlin went for a routine clearance at the 13' minute but missed and allowed Portland to go one on one with Stankov who held his own and covered well.
On the other end, Edmonton's chances did not have the proper finishing as evidenced by Dhaliwal's cross to Sibiya whose shot went well wide at the 16' minute. With Portland counter-attacking, a minute later, Gordon took advantage of another Devlin mistake, took it in closer and beat Stankov to put the visitors on the scoreboard. 1-0 Portland.
In contrast with Edmonton's erratic attacking forays, Portland employed a systematic buildup of momentum as they edged closer to the opposing goal. The visitors could have gone up 2-0 at the 28' minute when Thompson was able to go upfield, beat Devlin but was dis-possessed by Hart's well timed run.
A little bit of the physical play went on behind the scenes throughout the game, none more comical and frustrating than Gordon falling on Munoz as the latter was trying to make a run through the midfield. The one highlight throughout the night for the home side, was Fraser's occasional runs into the box from his right winger position. On one of these forays, Fraser was knocked down by Henning who earned himself nothing more than a verbal warning from the seemingly apathetic Referee.
Two minutes later, Vignjevic found Akok on the outside of the box but his pass to Sibiya resulted in a curling shot that went the wrong way. Two minutes after that, Munoz went in Referee Michael Lambert's bad books for a sliding tackle that sent the ball out of play and knocked down a Timber from behind.
The first half would not end nicely though as Alvarez beat Hart and then beat a rushing Stankov at the 45' minute to make it 2-0 Portland.
Five minutes into the second half, Mr. Lambert ignored a studs up challenge on Hart who took it in the right shin/ankle area. Like a bad knock to the groin, the crowd grimaced in pain, but no call was forthcoming.
To demonstrate he was not biased though, Mr. Lambert only gave Vignjevic a verbal warning for kicking the legs from under a feisty Miranda at the 59' minute. Vignjevic went for the customary pat on the back, but Miranda shoved aside the veteran.
Portland remained their composure though and Alvarez would make it 3-0 Timbers off a seemingly 'nothing' play six minutes later. This would provide incentive for Edmonton to attack a little more and with good possession, Akok fed Sibiya at the 69' minute who once again shot it wide.
Two minutes later, Munoz and Devlin made way for Daniel Drummond and Carmelo Rago and a minute later, Desmond Tachie came on for Fred Akok as Edmonton tried to at least get on the board. Portland would have none of it though, and were rewarded with a 3 men breakaway at the 75' minute after Kassaye mis-judged his tackle. Luckily for Edmonton, the Portland player decided to pass the ball up rather than run it up himself and was duly called on the offside.
Right after that, Gordon was replaced with Daniel Dizzy Antoniuk and two minutes later, man of the match Alvarez was subbed out for Fadi Afash. Sibiya was issued a yellow card at the 80' minute to keep Munoz company in the Referee's books.
To give the home fans something to celebrate, at the 82' miute, Vignjevic sent a beautiful curling free kick to the far top corner and made it 3-1 Portland. Two minutes after that though, Vignjevic crossed the ball to Fraser who chested it but the ball bounced on top of a Timber's head, and on the counterattack, Afash put the game away after making it 4-1.
Edmonton tried to press a little as the clock winded down but simply did not have enough time or on this night the same tactical quality as Portland. In all fairness though, the first two goals were a result of defensive mistakes while the last two Portland goals came out of nowhere.
With a minute left in regulation, Erik Cronkite came in for Sagare as the diehard home fans politely applauded both teams.
