Battery blanks Timbers

Battery 2, Timbers 0

Byron Alvarez claimed no vengeance after leading the Charleston Battery to a much-needed victory over his former team, the Portland Timbers, on Sunday at Blackbaud Stadium.

Alvarez scored in the first half, and Luke Vercollone added an insurance goal in the second as the Battery snapped a two-game skid with a 2-0 victory over first-place Portland before 3,467 fans on Daniel Island.

"It was just another game," said Alvarez, who played four years in Portland and is the leading scorer in that franchise's history. "I don't have anything against them, and I respect the job they are doing so far in the league.

"It was just about coming out and doing our jobs. We needed the points, and Portland is the team we were playing today."

Alvarez, 28, scored 41 goals in 96 matches for Portland, but the Timbers decided to let him go after last season. He was picked up by the Battery and has had a major impact on his new squad, for whom he leads the United Soccer League's First Division with eight goals.

"I'm sure Byron had a little extra drive tonight," said Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser, whose club is 6-8-5 and picked up three points to improve to 23 for the season. "And he knows all their players and knows where he can take advantage of situations."

The Battery took advantage of the Timbers' situation in ending Portland's seven-game win streak. Portland (11-3-3) was playing its second match in as many nights, having taken a 1-0 win in Atlanta on Saturday that all but ensured a playoff berth for the Timbers.

With defender Kevin Nylen and forward Ian Fuller back in the lineup after returning from injury, Charleston took the match to the Timbers early on, applying pressure from the start. But Fuller's sore hamstring acted up again in the 14th minute, and he was forced to come off for Jordan Hughes.

The Battery kept the pressure on, however, and it paid off in the 26th minute when midfielder Gordon Chin one-touched a pass to Alvarez in the middle.

The wily veteran fought off one defender, pushed the ball between the legs of Timbers keeper Bayard Elfvin and grappled past a second defender to knock the ball in the goal.

"It was a great ball through from Chin, and I just had to keep fighting," Alvarez. "I put it between his legs, and it was unlucky it didn't go in the first time. I had to go get it again."

Chin was also in the middle of the Battery's second goal, in the 75th minute with the Timbers a man down after forward Bryan Jordan was ejected with a red card. Chin beat two defenders down the right side and hit a nice cross to reserve Armando Romero. His shot and one off the rebound by Alvarez were blocked before Vercollone finished from about 10 yards out for his first goal in league play this season.

After allowing seven goals in two losses in Puerto Rico last week, the Battery's defense was solid, giving up just four shots on goal. Keeper Dusty Hudock made two saves while recording his fifth shutout of the season.

"We didn't give up very many chances, and Portland was a little tired and didn't push forward in very many numbers," Anhaeuser said. "But that's what we expected. They came out a little differently in the second half, but our boys held their shape and did a good job."

Headers

Battery center back Kevin Nylen played 90 minutes in his first appearance since breaking his leg in preseason practice ... Charleston had 10 shots on goal and three corner kicks ... Portland forward Chris Bagley was a member of the Battery's A-League championship team in 2003 ... Charleston's next match is July 31 against Miami FC at Blackbaud Stadium.