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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN id=KonaBody><DIV class=headline2>Timbers fall in season finale</DIV>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 align=right border=0><SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE>PORTLAND, Ore. - Machel Millwood scored two goals as the Atlanta Silverbacks shut down the Portland Timbers in the final game of the regular season in front of 6,163 Thursday night at PGE Park.
Portland (7-15-6 27pts) could not close out the season on a high note, losing its third straight game. It is just the second loss in a regular season finale for the Timbers in the last six years.
The Silverbacks (10-11-5, 35pts) got a much-needed win as they jockey for the sixth and final USL First Division playoff spot with Seattle, Miami and Puerto Rico. In two games against the Timbers, Millwood scored three goals and tallied an assist.
Millwood opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when the Silverbacks worked the ball deep inside the left of the penalty area and drew Timbers <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: rgb(251,92,5)! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative">goalkeeper</SPAN> Bayard Elfvin toward the left post. Tony McManus then slipped a pass to Millwood who rolled a shot to the right side of the goal and out of the reach of Elfvin to give the Silverbacks the 1-0 advantage.
Millwood tacked on another goal in the 70th minute when he collected a loose ball toward midfield and broke away from the Timbers defense. Elfvin came out of the goal to try and take away the angle, but Millwood chipped it over his head and into the empty net.
The Timbers had a prime opportunity in the 6th minute, when Silverbacks goalkeeper Felipe Quintero chased a loose ball to the end of the penalty area and took down Mamba Chisoni. Referee Colin Arblaster immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and the Timbers selected Byron Alvarez to take the penalty kick. He sent a hard shot toward the left post, but Quintero followed the ball and deflected it out of harm's way.
Mike Chabala had a chance to tie it up in the 49th minute, as he came in-stride with a cross from Chisoni on the far side. Chabala redirected the ball toward the Silverbacks goal, but Quintero made a <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: rgb(251,92,5)! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative">diving</SPAN> save to protect the lead.
Chisoni also tried for an equalizer in the 61st minute. He broke away from the Silverbacks at midfield and launched a shot from about 25 yards away, but it was pushed out of bounds by a diving Quintero, who finished with five saves on the night.
The Timbers were eliminated from playoff contention last Thursday for just the second time in modern franchise history.
NOTES: At halftime head coach and general manager Chris Agnello presented Tom Poltl with th
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 align=right border=0><SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE>PORTLAND, Ore. - Machel Millwood scored two goals as the Atlanta Silverbacks shut down the Portland Timbers in the final game of the regular season in front of 6,163 Thursday night at PGE Park. Portland (7-15-6 27pts) could not close out the season on a high note, losing its third straight game. It is just the second loss in a regular season finale for the Timbers in the last six years.
The Silverbacks (10-11-5, 35pts) got a much-needed win as they jockey for the sixth and final USL First Division playoff spot with Seattle, Miami and Puerto Rico. In two games against the Timbers, Millwood scored three goals and tallied an assist.
Millwood opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when the Silverbacks worked the ball deep inside the left of the penalty area and drew Timbers <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: rgb(251,92,5)! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative">goalkeeper</SPAN> Bayard Elfvin toward the left post. Tony McManus then slipped a pass to Millwood who rolled a shot to the right side of the goal and out of the reach of Elfvin to give the Silverbacks the 1-0 advantage.
Millwood tacked on another goal in the 70th minute when he collected a loose ball toward midfield and broke away from the Timbers defense. Elfvin came out of the goal to try and take away the angle, but Millwood chipped it over his head and into the empty net.
The Timbers had a prime opportunity in the 6th minute, when Silverbacks goalkeeper Felipe Quintero chased a loose ball to the end of the penalty area and took down Mamba Chisoni. Referee Colin Arblaster immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and the Timbers selected Byron Alvarez to take the penalty kick. He sent a hard shot toward the left post, but Quintero followed the ball and deflected it out of harm's way.
Mike Chabala had a chance to tie it up in the 49th minute, as he came in-stride with a cross from Chisoni on the far side. Chabala redirected the ball toward the Silverbacks goal, but Quintero made a <SPAN class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: rgb(251,92,5)! important; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; POSITION: relative">diving</SPAN> save to protect the lead.
Chisoni also tried for an equalizer in the 61st minute. He broke away from the Silverbacks at midfield and launched a shot from about 25 yards away, but it was pushed out of bounds by a diving Quintero, who finished with five saves on the night.
The Timbers were eliminated from playoff contention last Thursday for just the second time in modern franchise history.
NOTES: At halftime head coach and general manager Chris Agnello presented Tom Poltl with th
