Calgary Mustangs Match Reports by Jason Kmet

August 8, 2004 -- Portland Timbers 1 at Calgary Mustangs 1

On Sunday, the Calgary Mustangs looked to continue their recent winning ways when they faced the Portland Timbers at McMahon Stadium.  The 'Stangs looked great in the first half, but sputtered in the second, where they gave up a tying goal.  Overtime solved nothing and the game ended 1-1.

The opening twenty minutes did not yield any real scoring opportunities.  In the 21st minute, Calgary's Sergei Kolomiets-Raad put a low cross into the box from the right side, but it rolled a couple of yards behind striker Walter Otta. 

In the 23rd minute, Mustang Jamie Auvigne launched a rocket from about 25 yards out but the shot went wide right.

The Timbers first opportunity occurred in the 25th minute when Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar took a good low shot, but it went just wide of the left post.

Calgary opened the scoring in the 27th minute.  Kolomiets-Raad had the ball on the right wing.  He put a pass in to Mesut Mert in the middle, who promptly passed to Otta on the left.  The South American striker made no mistake and put it past Josh Saunders to give the Mustangs the lead.

Alan Gordon had a chance to equalize for Portland in the 33rd minute, but he was not able to put the ball past Calgary keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.

Otta stayed involved in the game for the Mustangs.  In the 36th minute, he put a cross in to Geert Brusselers, but the Mustangs captain's header was deflected wide.

Portland had the last chance of the half when Byron Alvarez stole the ball away just outside the danger area, but his attempt strayed wide left.

The second half action became intense in the 58th minute when Calgary's Steffen Holdt forced a turnover, but his shot was right at Saunders.  Moments later, the Timbers put a dangerous cross into the Mustang penalty area, but Pfannenstiel parried ball out of the way.

Ten minutes later, Alvarez outduelled Mike Pavicic for the ball at the right side of the box, but his shot went wide.

Calgary clearly looked tired at this point, and the Timbers took advantage.  Their work was rewarded in the 74th minute when Alcaraz-Cuellar put a beautiful ball through to substitute Fadi Afash, who was waiting near the left post.  He headed the ball into the Calgary goal and tied up the match.

In the 85th minute, Timber Jake Segare took a powerful shot at the Calgary goal, but Pfannestiel was equal to the task.

A minute later, Walter Otta came in alone on goal, but was taken down in the penalty area by Saunders and Gavin Wilkinson.  However, the referee did not consider the play a foul so play continued.

The last decent chance of regulation came in the 87th minute when Segare crossed a ball to Afash, but his header went wide this time.

The first overtime did not yield much in the way of chances.  Alcaraz-Cuellar's free kick at the end of the period went just over the bar.

In the second overtime, Portland substitute Daniel Antoniuk made an attempt in the 108th minute from the side of the goal, but the Calgary keeper again made the save.

Sixty seconds later, Mert sprung Otta but the Portland defense recovered in time to force his shot high and wide.

As time ticked down, Portland had one last chance to win on a corner kick, but Lee Morrison's header went high, and game ended as a draw.

The club's next home match is on Tuesday, August 17 when the Milwaukee Wave United visit Calgary.  Game time is 7pm.

MUSTANG NOTES:  Calgary striker Conrad Smith was out of the lineup because of a league suspension for too many yellow cards.  He has lleft to join the Trinidad & Tobago national team for a World Cup qualifying match and will miss a couple of Mustang matches...Aaron Richer's did not play as his ankle injury has still not completely healed...Former Calgary Storm goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld is currently on trial with Dundee United of the Scottish Premier League...Another Storm alumni, Waldo Dutra, has signed with FC Schweinfurt 1905 in the German regional leagues.

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