PORTLAND — The start was good. Diego Gonzalez put the Portland Hearts of Pine ahead just nine minutes into the match.
Then the Fitzpatrick Stadium crowd of 6,239 turned quiet for the rest of the first half of a USL League One contest Wednesday night against Union Omaha. At first, the silence was purposeful — a 3-minute anti-ICE statement by the Dirigo Union supporters group. Then it was because Omaha scored two goals resulting from Portland defensive miscues and controlled the flow en route to a 2-1 victory.
“We get the goal, and then we just make mistakes (on defense) and it cost us,” said Portland coach Bobby Murphy. “That’s karma. You keep making these choices, you get punished.”
Playing its first game in the second half of the 32-game regular-season schedule, Portland slipped to 5-7-5 and remained stuck at 20 points — two wins and six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Omaha, which had been 1-3-1 in its previous five games, improved to 11-5-2 and moved into first place in the 17-team league.
Gonzalez scored his fifth goal in his seventh game in a Hearts uniform, with an assist from Aboubacar Camara after midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron took the ball away from an Omaha defender inside the 18-yard box.
Omaha’s Diego Gutierrez countered in the 16th minute, just as the Union supporters were wrapping up their every game “Bring Them Home” chant that asks for the return of detained immigrants to their homes.
Gabriel Cabral put Omaha on top with a goal across keeper Hunter Morse’s face that went into the right goal panel in the 33rd minute.
Second-half midfield subs Diogo Barbosa and Matteo Kidd gave Portland an immediate boost and increased the attacking presence, but the finishing touch was missing for the Hearts, who put two shots on Omaha keeper Cole Jensen in the second half — a header by Barbosa 30 seconds in and then a free kick by Ollie Wright that Jensen swatted up and over the goal midway through the half.
“We were obviously looking for that equalizer and winning goal, but it didn’t come. Back to the drawing board,” Wright said. “When you’re chasing the game, it’s always difficult. They can waste time. They can put bodies behind the ball.”
While Portland has struggled to finish games, including allowing a late goal in a 2-2 tie at Omaha in May, the visitors showed how to make a lead stand up.
After Portland’s initial second-half pressure, Omaha coach Vincenzo Candela made substitutions in the 55th, 61st and 66th minute. Multiple Omaha players went to the turf with cramps, only to be able to finish playing. Most of all, Omaha kept its defensive shape and didn’t allow a truly dangerous chance, and actually put more shots on Portland’s goal, forcing Morse to make five of his six saves in the second half.
Portland’s next two games are exhibition contests against league foe Sarasota Paradise, with Sunday’s game in Portland and a rematch in Florida on Wednesday. The games were scheduled because both teams needed an additional home game after South Georgia Tormenta was disbanded prior to the start of the season.