Beat Me in St Louis

Portland Timbers began their three match road trip by surrendering their five match unbeaten run. St Louis began a five match run of home games with a win. A hat trick by forward Mike Ambersley guided AC St. Louis to a 3-0 win at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park on Wednesday. In doing so Ambersley doubled his goal tally for the season. His two first half and one second half goals enabled Portland’s first league loss since June17. Portland remain on 26 points and their hosts climb to 19.

It was the first time since June 7, 2008 that Portland had given up three goals and lost.

St. Louis took the lead in the 25th minute. Following a long ball played into the box, Ambersley tucked away his third shot of the night into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead and his fourth strike of the season. Two minute later the Timbers conceded a second and disastrous goal. St Louis keeper Alec Dufty hacked a drop kick upfield. It reached Ambersley who chipped Steve Cronin, allowing the keeper to claim a rare assist.

Scrappy defending inside the box allowed Ambersley his hat trick half an hour later. Steve Cronin made three saves on the night but could not prevent the ball rolling under him.

Further Reporting Courtesy of the Timbers Media Relations Office:

“The Timbers attempted 11 shots on the night and had opportunities to get on the scoreboard. In the opening moments of the match, defender Josh Cameron played a through ball from the left side to spring Josten on a run. Near the edge of the box, Dufty collected the pass and ended the threat before the Josten could reach the ball.

Led by Dike, the Timbers caused trouble inside the AC St. Louis box in the ninth minute. Dufty and the AC St. Louis defense were able to hold steady and clear the ball before Portland could get off a dangerous shot.

In the 43rd minute, Josten capped a 30 yard charge into the box with a hard shot on frame from 10 yards out. He forced Dufty to produce one of his two first-half saves to keep the Timbers from pulling one back before the break.

Before the AC St. Louis scored its third goal of the night, the Timbers had a chance to cut the deficit in half. Second-half substitute Quavas Kirk served a cross into the box for Dike near the spot. He wasn’t able to convert his second shot of the night, and the Timbers were held scoreless for the sixth time this season.”

The Timbers continue their road trip on Saturday as they visit FC Tampa Bay Rowdies at George M. Steinbrenner Field at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). A live broadcast will air on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game, with a live video webcast available online at www.portlandtimbers.com/live.

Notes: Portland defender Ian Joy was not available on Wednesday due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for yellow-card accumulation; Cameron made his fifth start of the season at left back … Ambersley has scored four of his six goals on the season against the Timbers … Entering the contest against AC St. Louis, Portland had allowed just one goal in its last five matches … On a two-game loan to AC St. Louis, RSL draft pick and former Portland Pilot midfielder Collen Warner made his team debut Wednesday. He was also a member of the Timbers’ development team, the Timbers U-23s, in 2009.

Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Cameron, D Keel, D Danso, D Purdy (Kirk, 45), M McManus (Marcelin, 64), M Nimo, M Pore, M Gaudet (Lopez, 45), F Dike (DeMartin, 82), F Josten (Suzuki, 72)

STL: GK Dufty, D Traynor, D Schuler (O’Garro, 68), D Bauer (Warner, 44), D Bloom, M Kreamalmeyer, M Cole, M Velten, M Stisser (Moore, 59), F Ambersley (Kafedzic, 88), F Crosgriff

Tags: Portland and Vancouver

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