Early red card hurts Chill, Portland takes PDL crown

Playing a man short for most of the match, the Thunder Bay Chill failed to do what no other team could do this season – beat the host Portland Timbers U23.

The Chill, who lost midfielder Rafa Heck to a red card in the 16th minute, stayed even with their history-making opponent on Saturday in the Premier Development League final for the first 45 minutes of the contest.

But they simply couldn’t hold off the penetrating attack of a team that became the first in league history to finish a season unbeaten and untied with a convincing 4-1 triumph in Soccer City USA.

"It's a huge weight off our shoulders," Portland coach Jim Rilatt told Fox Soccer Channel, which aired the game. "We didn't talk too much about the record or anything else, but at the end of the day it is something there and a little bit of history for the USL, and our organization, the first team to win something, and that's important."

Doing it on home turf, at the Portland PGE complex, made it that much more sweet a victory, Rilatt said.

"It was fabulous, having the (Timber) Army show up here as they did for both games and let these players get an opportunity to play in front of them ... When they were singing at the end, there were some tears in guys' eyes. It was great."

PDL most valuable player Brent Richards headed home a free kick in the 51st minute that Chill goalie Stephen Paterson couldn’t quite get a glove on, breaking a 1-1 tie and helped deny the Central Conference champions a second title in three seasons.

The game was eerily reminiscent of their 2008 conference semifinal win, which saw them go down a man early but win it with a late goal by striker Brandon Swartzendruber. But the Timbers, winners of 20 straight, were not nearly as generous with the opportunities allowed.

Ten minutes after his game-winner, Richards went up against Paterson again, winning the battle for a second time and headed home the insurance goal that delivered the first championship in Timbers franchise history.

Freddie Braun wrapped up the scoring in the 76th, driving a penalty kick past Paterson.

The four goals were the most scored against the Chill since the second game of the 2009 season, when Colorado beat them 4-2.

It was all Chill in the early going, who came out firing on all cylinders and kept the attack in the Portland zone.

The Timbers woke up in the 12th minute, and both sides had their chances in the opposition end. However, Heck got his foot up in a battle for a loose ball near midfield, and although his back was to Portland’s Braun, when it crushed into Braun’s face the referee immediately whipped out the red.

Portland struck first in the 31st minute. Paul Ogenyumi went wide on Chill defender Zetroy Robertson and sent a sharp cross to teammate Tracy Hassan, who deftly headed it past Paterson for a 1-0 Timbers lead.

The 2008 PDL champion Chill, however, refused to lay down and die, despite the dire circumstances, and evened the score as halftime neared.

Paterson sent a long ball down the field and as it landed Hassan collided with teammate Brock Granger, freeing Thunder Bay playmaker Gustavo Oliveira. Oliveira chipped it over a diving Portland goalie Jacob Gleeson and chipped it home in the 44th minute, tying the game 1-1 heading into the half.