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MIAMI FC 3, PORTLAND TIMBERS 2

Romario's 2 goals give Miami 1st win

By BRANT LONG

Miami Herald Writer

On Friday, Romario got his first goal for Miami FC. But he saved the real drama for his second.

The Brazilian soccer legend scored in the 89th minute, sending the crowd of 2,500 fans at Tropical Park Stadium into a frenzy as Miami (1-1-2) won its first United Soccer Leagues game, defeating the Portland Timbers 3-2.

The mood was far from celebratory moments earlier, when Portland's Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellas converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute.

But three minutes later, Romario capped his eventful night, heading Oscar Gil's cross across the goal and past leaping Portland keeper Josh Saunders to seal the win.

''I was happy to get the two goals, but happier to help the team win,'' said the two-time Brazilian World Cup player and scorer of more than 950 goals. ``Little by little, I feel like I'm getting better with this team.''

A Miami error gave Portland (1-2-1) the opening goal in the seventh minute. Off a long Saunders goal kick, Miami defender Tre Lee tapped the ball back to goalie Chris Doyle. But an onrushing Mamba Chisoni deflected Doyle's clearance into the Miami net.

Romario then evened things, bringing down a cross from Mario Rodriguez in the 14th minute and drilling it past Saunders to tie the game.

The game stayed tied until the 51st minute, when Miami's Sean Fraser latched onto a cross from Jamil Jean-Jaques and poked it off the underside of the bar and across the goal line.

No Stephane Guilaume

Miami FC 3 vs. Portland Timbers 2

Scoring/Goles:

Portland- Chisoni 7

Miami- Romario 13 (Rodriguez)

Miami- Fraser 51 (Jean-Jacques)

Alcaraz- Cuellas 86 (PK)

Miami- Romario 89 (Gil)

Discipline/Tarjetas:

Miami-- Pulido (caution/amarilla) 36, UB

Portland-- Nsien (caution/amarilla) 39, UB

Portland-- Chisani (caution/amarilla) 41, UB

Portland-- Gutierrez (caution/amarilla) 49, UB

Miami-- Erush (caution/amarilla) 65, UB

Portland-- Miranda (caution/amarilla) 71, UB

Miami-- Adeyemi (caution/amarilla) 71, UB

Game Stats/Estadisticas de Juego

Miami FC Portland Timbers

Total Shots/Tiros al Arco: 8 6

Total Saves/Atajadas: 0 1

Fouls/Faltas: 19 15

Corner Kicks/Tiros de Esquina: 2 5

Referee/Arbitro: Colin Tait

Referee's Assistants/Asistente Arbitros: Reggie Rutty; Cheron Clark

4th Official/Cuarto Oficial: Aquilles Duero

Weather/Tiempo: Clear -and- 86 degrees/Despejado y 86 grados

Attendance/Asistencia:

Miami FC Lineup/Alineacion

1 GK/P Chris Doyle

3 D Tre Lee (Koniever 77)

23 D Mike Erush

14 D Jamil Jean-Jacques (Ramirez 78)

5 M J.P Rodrigues

24 M Mike Adeyemi

16 M John Pulido

7 M Sean Fraser (Gil 66)

10 M Zinho (Harrington 83)

9 F/D Mario Rodriguez (Walsh 55)

11 F/D Romario

Portland Timbers Lineup/Alineacion

31 GK Saunders Josh

2 D Goodfellow Joacobi (Brown 77)

26 D Nsien Michael

14 D Garrett Marcum

17 D Thompson Scot (Kreamolmeyer 8)

13 M Gutierrez Alejandro (Bartlome 63)

7 M Alcaraz-Cuellar Hugo

15 M Alvarez Byron

8 M Miranda Edwin

21 F Chisoni Mamba (Ready 87)

4 D Morrison Lee