FCM Portland Defeats PDX FC 3-0

By FCM Portland

The Battle of Portland, or what has been known to many as the Portland Derby, has become a favorite of local soccer fans in the Pacific Northwest over the past three seasons.  Both FCM and PDX carry a roster of players that have played for the opposition in the past years, so competition and intensity increases in anticipation of playing their former team.

PDX attackers Ryo Asai and Borce Atanosov are among the former FCM players who have played overseas, and both are very well-known goal scorers.  FCM knew that stopping this duo was going to be a difficult task. FCM got off to an early start with several scoring opportunities but luck didn’t seem to run their way.  Alcides Thomas banged a header off the crossbar and then missed another heading opportunity to the back post just minutes later. PDX got a few of their own opportunities just missing wide of the goal several times.

In the 27th minute, a foul by the PDX goalkeeper gave FCM a PK opportunity which Thomas easily buried to make the score 1-0.  The Battle of Portland continued as FCM controlled a majority of the possession but PDX couldn’t capitalize on FCM’s defensive errors.  The first half ended with the score at 1-0.

As the second half got underway, Atanosov got subbed in and became an immediate threat getting behind the FCM defense several times, just missing the goal wide right both times.  For PDX, Thomas continued to be a handful for the opposing defense. In the 54th minute, Thomas took on several defenders just outside the 18-yard box, cut to his left, and then ripped s a beautiful upper V shot to the far post, making it 2-0.  Asai got his own opportunities to score on his former teammates, just missing high by inches on several occasions. Alex White sealed the fate for PDX as he finished his opportunity, assisted by Jordan Baeza, a former PDX player.

Both teams get several more opportunities but the score ended as a 3-0 win for FCM.

Photo Credit: FCM Portland