USL- Latest news, results

[Frank Cunha]

TIMBERS START OFF ON A GOOD FOOT
Portland defeats rival Seattle 2-1 in season opener

May 01, 2004




For the Timbers, it was their first season-opening win in four tries. (Conor O' Healy)




The Sounders' Ryan Edwards was ejected in the 42nd minute for an elbow to Gavin Wilkinson. (Conor O' Healy)




The Timbers have now won three straight over the Sounders, dating back to last season. (Conor O' Healy)


PORTLAND, Ore. – After three seasons of slow starts, the Timbers knew they needed to get off to a fast one in 2004, and that’s exactly what they got from rookie Alan Gordon.

Gordon took a long pass from David Henning 30 seconds into the season and cashed in, finding the back off the net from 15 yards out, as the Timbers went on to defeat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 before 6,891 fans Saturday night at PGE Park.

The win was dually important for the Timbers, as it was the first of two qualifiers against Seattle for a berth in the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Timbers, who had yet to win a U.S. Open Cup qualifying game until Saturday, now lead the Sounders 2-1 on aggregate goals.

Saturday’s win was also the first season-opening win for the Timbers in four seasons.

It was a hotly contested, physical match throughout, as several altercations erupted between the rival clubs, culminating in a red-card ejection of Sounders’ defender Ryan Edwards for throwing an elbow to Gavin Wilkinson in the 42nd minute, leaving Seattle a man down for more than half the match.

In addition to the ejection, four cautions were dished out on the evening.

With the Timbers up 1-0, Byron Alvarez headed in an insurance goal in the 71st minute on a cross from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, handing the Timbers a 2-0 advantage.

Alvarez’ goal turned out to be the difference-maker, as Kyle Smith scored on a pass from Jason Farrell in the 75th, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and spoiling the Timbers’ chances at a shutout.

Smith had a chance to equalize on a header earlier in the 34th minute, but had his attempt thwarted by Alcaraz-Cuellar and goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

The Timbers had to overcome a late flurry by the Sounders, who, despite having 10 players on the field, had some good scoring opportunities in the closing minutes of the match.

On tap for the Timbers is a match with the Calgary Mustangs on Thursday, May 13 at PGE Park.

SCORING SUMMARY: Gordon, 1st (Henning); Alvarez, 71st (Alcaraz-Cuellar); Smith, 75th (Farrell).

PENALTY SUMMARY: SEA Sleeth, YC (26th), Edwards, RC (42nd), Smith, YC (77th), Velez, YC (90th); POR Alcaraz-Cuellar, YC (29th).

LINEUPS: SEATTLE (0-1-0) Burpo GK, Jackson D, Scott D, Edwards D, Aristodemo M (Velez 45th), Brown M, Farrell M, Callahan M (Sawatzky 66th), Sleeth M (Nguyen 70th), Smith F (Jenkins 88th), Levesque F; PORTLAND (1-0-0) J. Saunders GK, Morrison D, Wilkinson D, Heinzen D, Henning D (Benedetti 13th), Bengard M, Alcaraz-Cuellar M, S. Saunders M, Sagare M, Gordon F, Alvarez F (Antoniuk 83rd).

[Frank Cunha]

2. A-LEAGUE: Team of the Week

GOALKEEPER
Greg Sutton (Montreal)
* Two road shutouts at Atlanta, Charleston

DEFENDERS
Liam DeSilva (Edmonton)
* Solid play in 0-0 draw at Vancouver

Gavin Wilkinson (Portland)
* Solid play in 2-1 win over Seattle

John Wilson (Rochester)
* Solid play in 4-0 win over Toronto

MIDFIELDERS
Joey Worthen (Richmond)
* Goal, assist in 1-1 draw, 2-0 win against Virginia Beach

Jakob Fenger (Virginia Beach)
* Goal in 1-1 draw at Richmond

Patrick Leduc (Montreal)
* Assist in 1-0 OT win at Charleston

Lars Lyssand (Syracuse)
* Goal in 2-2 draw at Puerto Rico

FORWARDS
Chris Carrieri (Rochester)
* Goal, two assists in 4-0 win over Toronto

Freddy Commodore (Montreal)
* Two goals in 2-0 win at Atlanta as sub

Alan Gordon (Portland)
* Goal 25 seconds into 2-1 win over Seattle

[Frank Cunha]

JEFFERY'S GOAL AND ASSIST LEAD KICKERS

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2004

Venue: University of Richmond Stadium

Attendance: 1,042

Kick off Time: 7:00pm

Final Score: Richmond 3 Toronto 1

Match Summary: In what head coach Duncan Wilde called his team's best performance of the year to date, the Toronto Lynx dropped a 3-1 heartbreaker to the Richmond Kickers in front of 1,042 fans at University of Richmond Stadium tonight. The Kickers jumped out to an early lead only 5 minutes into the match on striker Kevin Jeffery's second goal of the season. A Jeffery assist on a goal by Richie Williams at the 24 minute mark put the Kickers up 2-0. This energized the Lynx, as they began to take the play to the Kickers with striker John Barry Nusum pulling a goal back for the Lynx at the 67 minute mark, his first in a Toronto uniform. Defender Adrian Serioux came inches away from equalizing minutes later with a near miss off a Lynx set piece. Substitute McColm Cephas relieved the Lynx pressure icing the match for the Kickers with a breakaway goal in the 85th minute. Despite the loss, Wilde was happy with his team's performance. "I am very pleased with the progress," he said. "I felt that we controlled the game, with all three goals coming on breakaways against the run of the play. We hope to build on this performance for Saturday and open our home schedule with 6 points in the bag." The Lynx road trip will continue in Virginia Beach on Saturday, May 8th before the long awaited home opener on Sunday, May 16th at 4pm versus the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

Final Score: Richmond 3 Toronto 1

Lineups:

Toronto: Hancock, Blois, Serioux, Steele (Arango 61), Mayard (Munthali 45), Mattacchione, Baxter (DiPlacido 43), Bartolomeu, Dodds, Nusum, Gerba (Prostran 54)

Richmond: Pascale, Fox, Knight, T. Williams, Luzek, R. Williams, Simms (Lerics 76), Worthen, Hayes (Burke 57), Delicate (Ukrop 89), Jeffrey (Cephas 66)

Cautions: Tor: Munthali

Ejections: None

Shots: Ric: 22 Tor: 11

Saves: Ric: 4 Tor: 8

Scorers: Ric: Jeffery (T. Williams) 5th minute, R. Williams (Jeffery) 24th minute, Cephas (Delicate) 85th minute Tor: Nusum (unassisted) 67th minute

[Frank Cunha]

/7/2004 12:22:02 PM
Battery Signs Wolde Harris & Ezra Hendrickson
Charleston, SC - The Charleston Battery has agreed to terms with two seven-year MLS veterans, Wolde Harris and Ezra Hendrickson. Harris comes to the Battery from the Kansas City Wizards while Hendrickson arrives from Major League Soccer's Dallas Burn. A forward, Harris's seven year MLS totals include 206 games played, 50 goals, 31 assists, 131 points. Hendrickson a right-footed defender played 192 games in MLS scoring 23 goals with 30 assists for a total of 76 points.

Charleston Battery Head Coach, Chris Ramsey.

"Hopefully these two players will bring a bit of much-needed grit and experience to the squad. They both come highly recommended and know that the expectations at the Charleston Battery are very high."

Wolde Harris
A native of Jamaica, Harris enjoyed three stellar seasons with Clemson University scoring twenty or more goals in each year played (1993, 1994 and 1995). He is Clemson's all-time leading goal scorer with 76 career goals and ranks second all-time in points (170).

Harris began his pro career with the A-League Colorado Foxes in 1996 where he was named to the All A-League team. He was drafted by MLS's Colorado Rapids in 1997 where he played 92 games in three seasons scoring 27 goals with 19 assists.

In 2000 Harris was traded to the New England Revolution where he would spend three years scoring another 24 goals in 84 games played before moving to the Kansas City Wizards late in the 2003 season.

Harris saw post season action in six of his seven years with Major League Soccer and was a starter in the 2002 MLS Cup match vs. a LA Galaxy side that also featured Ezra Hendrickson.

Harris, 5-10, 190 lbs, 29 yrs., has represented Jamaica at the full National Team level.

Ezra Hendrickson
A native of St. Vincent & The Grenadines Hendrickson was drafted in 1997 by the Metrostars and played eight games for them before being traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy where he would spend the next seven years.

While with the Galaxy Hendrickson made 29 playoff appearances as LA made the playoffs for six consecutive seasons (1997 - 2002). He was a starter in the Galaxy side that won the 2002 MLS Cup. Hendrickson has appeared in three MLS Cup matches during his career (1999, 2001 & 2002).

In addition to his MLS Cup success Hendrickson was named the LA Galaxy’s MVP in 2001, the same year that the Galaxy won the US Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Hendrickson was traded to the Dallas Burn in June 2003.

Hendrickson, 6-3, 185 lbs, 32 yrs., has 50 caps for St. Vincent & The Grenadines including seven 2002 World Cup qualifiers and is expected to participate in qualification this summer.

Charleston Battery @ Atlanta Silverbacks
The Charleston Battery visits Atlanta Saturday night for 6:00 PM match versus its Eastern Conference rival the Atlanta Silverbacks. The game is the first of four scheduled between the two clubs in the 2004 A-League season. Last year Charleston defeated Atlanta three times with one game ending in a tie.

Atlanta failed to make the playoffs in 2003 but have strengthened their roster considerably during the off-season. Former Battery players Fred Degand and Andrew Lewis are both Silverbacks now as is the 2001MLS goal scoring champion, Honduran striker, Alex Pineda-Chacon.

The Silverbacks also hired a new Head Coach for the 2004 season, David Vaudreuil. Vaudreuil is a seven-year MLS veteran who won two MLS Cups (1996 & 1997) and an US Open Cup (1996) as a member of DC United. In addition to United Vaudreuil played for the Miami Fusion, the Colorado Rapids and the Columbus Crew.

In addition to Degand and Lewis the Atlanta roster includes several other ex-Battery players. Forwards, Mac Cozier, Ivo Ilarianov, Velko Iotov plus defender Alan Woods have all played for Charleston.

Atlanta has struggled so far this season with a pair of home losses versus the Syracuse Salty Dogs and the Montreal Impact.

[Frank Cunha]

4. A-LEAGUE: Results (May 6-9)

May 6
Richmond 3 (Jeffrey 5, R.Williams 24, Cephas 85) Toronto 1 (Nusum 67).
May 7
Rochester 3 (Wright 5, Carrieri 37, Trout 45) Puerto Rico 0.
Vancouver 2 (Corazzin 56, Jordan 110) Minnesota 1 (Morehead 10) (OT).
May 8
Atlanta 2 (Ball 67, Iotov 85) Charleston 0.
Virginia Beach 3 (Washington 5, 48, Alvarez 15) Toronto 2 (Dodds 10, Gerba 83).
Syracuse 4 (Dore 4, 12, Rivas 26, Millwood 80) Puerto Rico 1 (DaSilva 43).
Seattle 1 (Farrell 38) Edmonton 1 (Lopresti 90) (OT).
May 9
Calgary 0 Minnesota 0 (OT).

[Frank Cunha]

Tuesday May 11
Virginia Beach 3
@ Charleston 4


Thursday May 13
Richmond
@ Puerto Rico 8:00 ET


Calgary
@ Portland 10:00 ET

Friday May 14
Rochester
@ Syracuse 7:30 ET


Edmonton
@ Milwaukee 8:00 ET


Saturday May 15
Edmonton
@ Minnesota 7:00 ET


Atlanta
@ Charleston 7:30 ET


Richmond
@ Puerto Rico 8:00 ET


Calgary
@ Vancouver 10:00 ET

Portland
@ Seattle 10:00 ET
»

Sunday May 16
Rochester
@ Toronto 4:00 ET


Virginia Beach
@ Montreal 4:00 ET

[Frank Cunha]

A-League attendance, what confusion

http://www.a-league.com/standings/2004/

[Frank Cunha]

Std Tables: Divisional - Overall Pts Per Match Tables: Divisional - Overall

c1 = clinched first place in conference .:. c2 = clinched second place in conference
p = clinched playoff spot .:. e = eliminated from playoffs

Sorted by Pts OVERALL HOME AWAY
P W D L F A GD W D L F A W D L F A Pts Pts/M Magic
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland Timbers 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00 74
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2.00 76
Minnesota Thunder 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1.33 77
Edmonton Aviators 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 1.00 78
Seattle Sounders 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0.50 80
Calgary Mustangs 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 0.33 80
Milwaukee Wave United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 80
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Syracuse Salty Dogs 4 3 1 0 9 4 +5 1 0 0 4 1 2 1 0 5 3 10 2.50 67
Montreal Impact 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 9 3.00 68
Richmond Kickers 6 2 3 1 7 5 +2 1 1 1 4 4 1 2 0 3 1 9 1.50 70
Charleston Battery 5 2 1 2 7 7 0 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 1 2 2 7 1.40 72
Rochester Raging Rhinos 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00 71
Virginia Beach Mariners 4 1 1 2 7 9 -2 1 0 1 3 4 0 1 1 4 5 4 1.00 75
Atlanta Silverbacks 3 1 0 2 2 3 -1 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.00 74
Toronto Lynx 4 1 0 3 4 10 -6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 10 3 0.75 76
Puerto Rico Islanders 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 0 2 3 3 7 0 0 2 1 7 2 0.29 77



Std Tables: Divisional - Overall Pts Per Match Tables: Divisional - Overall

c1 = clinched first place in conference .:. c2 = clinched second place in conference
p = clinched playoff spot .:. e = eliminated from playoffs

Sorted by Pts OVERALL HOME AWAY
P W D L F A GD W D L F A W D L F A Pts Pts/M
Syracuse Salty Dogs 4 3 1 0 9 4 +5 1 0 0 4 1 2 1 0 5 3 10 2.50
Montreal Impact 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 9 3.00
Richmond Kickers 6 2 3 1 7 5 +2 1 1 1 4 4 1 2 0 3 1 9 1.50
Charleston Battery 5 2 1 2 7 7 0 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 1 2 2 7 1.40
Rochester Raging Rhinos 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Portland Timbers 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2.00
Minnesota Thunder 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1.33
Virginia Beach Mariners 4 1 1 2 7 9 -2 1 0 1 3 4 0 1 1 4 5 4 1.00
Atlanta Silverbacks 3 1 0 2 2 3 -1 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.00
Toronto Lynx 4 1 0 3 4 10 -6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 10 3 0.75
Edmonton Aviators 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 1.00
Puerto Rico Islanders 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 0 2 3 3 7 0 0 2 1 7 2 0.29
Seattle Sounders 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0.50
Calgary Mustangs 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 0.33
Milwaukee Wave United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00



Std Tables: Divisional - Overall Pts Per Match Tables: Divisional - Overall

c1 = clinched first place in conference .:. c2 = clinched second place in conference
p = clinched playoff spot .:. e = eliminated from playoffs

Sorted by Pts/Match OVERALL HOME AWAY
P W D L F A GD W D L F A W D L F A Pts Pts/M
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland Timbers 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2.00
Minnesota Thunder 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1.33
Edmonton Aviators 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 1.00
Seattle Sounders 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0.50
Calgary Mustangs 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 0.33
Milwaukee Wave United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Montreal Impact 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 9 3.00
Rochester Raging Rhinos 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Syracuse Salty Dogs 4 3 1 0 9 4 +5 1 0 0 4 1 2 1 0 5 3 10 2.50
Richmond Kickers 6 2 3 1 7 5 +2 1 1 1 4 4 1 2 0 3 1 9 1.50
Charleston Battery 5 2 1 2 7 7 0 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 1 2 2 7 1.40
Virginia Beach Mariners 4 1 1 2 7 9 -2 1 0 1 3 4 0 1 1 4 5 4 1.00
Atlanta Silverbacks 3 1 0 2 2 3 -1 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.00
Toronto Lynx 4 1 0 3 4 10 -6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 10 3 0.75
Puerto Rico Islanders 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 0 2 3 3 7 0 0 2 1 7 2 0.29



Std Tables: Divisional - Overall Pts Per Match Tables: Divisional - Overall

c1 = clinched first place in conference .:. c2 = clinched second place in conference
p = clinched playoff spot .:. e = eliminated from playoffs

Sorted by Pts/Match OVERALL HOME AWAY
P W D L F A GD W D L F A W D L F A Pts Pts/M
Montreal Impact 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 9 3.00
Rochester Raging Rhinos 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Portland Timbers 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.00
Syracuse Salty Dogs 4 3 1 0 9 4 +5 1 0 0 4 1 2 1 0 5 3 10 2.50
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 2.00
Richmond Kickers 6 2 3 1 7 5 +2 1 1 1 4 4 1 2 0 3 1 9 1.50
Charleston Battery 5 2 1 2 7 7 0 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 1 2 2 7 1.40
Minnesota Thunder 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1.33
Virginia Beach Mariners 4 1 1 2 7 9 -2 1 0 1 3 4 0 1 1 4 5 4 1.00
Atlanta Silverbacks 3 1 0 2 2 3 -1 1 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.00
Edmonton Aviators 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 1.00
Toronto Lynx 4 1 0 3 4 10 -6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 10 3 0.75
Seattle Sounders 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0.50
Calgary Mustangs 3 0 1 2 1 4 -3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 0.33
Puerto Rico Islanders 7 0 2 5 4 14 -10 0 2 3 3 7 0 0 2 1 7 2 0.29
Milwaukee Wave United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

[Frank Cunha]

Virginia Beach 3
@ Charleston 4


Thursday May 13
Richmond 0
@ Puerto Rico 2OT 0


Calgary 1
@ Portland 2


Friday May 14
Rochester 1
@ Syracuse 2OT 1


Edmonton
@ Milwaukee PPD


Saturday May 15
Edmonton 0
@ Minnesota 2


Atlanta 2
@ Charleston 2OT 2


Richmond 3
@ Puerto Rico 0


Calgary 1
@ Vancouver 3


Portland 1
@ Seattle 0


Sunday May 16
Rochester 1
@ Toronto 2


Virginia Beach 0
@ Montreal 0

[Frank Cunha]

http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/metrostars/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?s0001_BC_SOC--A-LeagueGlance&&sports&njometros

[Frank Cunha]

League At A Glance

The Associated Press
5/24/04 12:04 AM



EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA
Richmond 3 2 3 12 10 6
Syracuse 3 1 2 11 10 6
Montreal 3 0 1 10 5 0
Rochester 3 1 1 10 10 3
Charleston 2 2 3 9 9 9
Virginia Beach 2 2 2 8 9 10
Atlanta 2 3 1 7 6 7
Toronto 2 3 0 6 6 11
Puerto Rico 0 6 3 3 4 17


WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA
Minnesota 3 1 2 11 6 2
Vancouver 3 1 1 10 8 6
Portland 4 0 0 12 8 3
Seattle 1 2 1 4 7 4
Edmonton 0 1 2 2 1 3
Milwaukee 0 1 1 1 0 1
Calgary 0 5 1 1 3 14


NOTE: Three points for a victory, one for a tie.



Friday's Games

Charleston 0, Puerto Rico 0, tie
Minnesota 1, Milwaukee 0, OT
Saturday's Games

Rochester 1, Syracuse 0
Virginia Beach 2, Atlanta 1, OT
Minnesota 0, Milwaukee 0, tie
Vancouver 2, Calgary 1
Sunday's Games

Atlanta 1, Richmond 0, OT
Charleston at Puerto Rico, ppd., rain
Seattle 5, Calgary 0
Portland 3, Vancouver 1
Thursday, May 27

Rochester at Puerto Rico
Friday, May 28

Toronto at Montreal
Edmonton at Calgary
Milwaukee at Seattle
Saturday, May 29

Montreal at Toronto
Virginia Beach at Richmond
Atlanta at Charleston
Rochester at Puerto Rico
Milwaukee at Portland
Sunday, May 30

Minnesota at Edmonton

[Frank Cunha]

Visitor excites Ludlow fans
Sporting Clube de Portugal had its way with the Western Mass. Pioneers, thrilling more than 2,200 soccer fans in Ludlow last night.
Monday, May 24, 2004
By JEFF THOMAS
jthomas@repub.com.


LUDLOW - The casual observer driving along Winsor Street last night may have thought the Our Lady of Fatima festival was being held earlier than usual.

There was a festival, but it was inside the cement walls of Lusitano Stadium next door to the site of the annual Labor Day celebration.




Yes, the Western Mass. Pioneers were playing, but it was the Pro Soccer League team's opponent that made an event out of a soccer match.

Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the three premier teams in the Portuguese SuperLiga, concluded its tour of the United States with a 3-0 win over the Pioneers before 2,272 delirious fans.

Hundreds of fans wore the green and white striped jerseys of Sporting, or a Sporting scarf wrapped. There were even a few waving Sporting flags in the warm and humid air.

The Pioneers did their best to stay with the Lisbon-based team, but could not.

Pioneers forward Robbie Jachym said he had played similar premier teams in friendly matches when he was in Major League Soccer, but they couldn't compare to Sporting in this heavily Portuguese town.

"I'm sure this is the biggest, to be able to play Sporting here," Jachym said. "As a frontrunner, I just admired the way they attack the goal and the quality of the services.

"Their first two chances on goal and they score twice, that's the difference between us and the top notch teams like Sporting," Jachym added.

It was the fourth and final match for Sporting, which left this morning from Boston's Logan International Airport. Sporting was 2-2, losing to the Earthquakes and the Revolution of MLS but beating the Pioneers and Premier Development League side Rhode Island Stingrays.

"This was very important to the community and very important after what happened last week," Sporting coach Fernando Santos said. "And being so close to the fans was great."

Sporting and the Revolution were involved in a brutal match last week in which the Portuguese team had three players ejected, eight cautions were issued and two players a side were injured.

Last night's game was considerably cleaner, with Sporting gettings three yellow cards and the Pioneers one.

"It was pretty clean, but we were warned about that," said Jachym, who along with several teammates exchanged jerseys with Sporting players. "We didn't want to have one of the most historic teams come in here and have someone get hurt. We had a little more class than the Revolution."

Sporting had little trouble doing whatever it liked on the field, getting a goal from Joao Pinto in the seventh minute from Tinga, followed by a goal by Silva on a pass from Rodrigo Tella less than two minutes later.

Silva scored again from Paito in the 60th minute for the final tally. Pioneers goalie Rick Koczak made several heroic saves to keep the tally down, and Bryan O'Quinn did the same when he went into net in the 64th minute.

The Pioneers had some chances in the second half, but for the most part it was Sporting's match to do with whatever they wanted.

"It's always nice to see the immigrants and it's nice to see we did the best we could," Pinto said. "We respected the fans and the team that played hard, knowing they played last night. We're happy we won and made people happy."

Judging by the large number of fans still on the field an hour after the game, it's a good bet the people were happy.