Fort Wayne FC Ends Four-Match Skid with Statement win in Portland

Fort Wayne FC needed a result, and it got one in emphatic fashion.

After dropping four straight matches, Fort Wayne traveled to Portland on Saturday and left Fitzpatrick Stadium with a 4-1 victory over Hearts of Pine, ending the losing streak while producing one of its most efficient attacking performances of the season.

Despite only completing 307 passes to Portland’s 465 and holding only 31% possession, Fort Wayne continued their trend of generating more scoring chances than their opponents. The difference this week? They finished the opportunities they had. That efficiency ultimately decided the match.

Taig Healy scored twice for Fort Wayne (8', 61'), while Clarence Awoudor (40') and Kameron Lacey (77') each added a goal. Ollie Wright (86') converted Portland's lone goal from the penalty spot.

For Awoudor, the performance represented a breakthrough – one we suspected was coming sooner than later.

Awoudor started this match on the wing, a position we have seen him play a couple of times this season, though his more natural position is in the central midfield. He entered the match without a goal or assist this season, but left that behind him and bagged one of each. His goal was courtesy of a Jayden Smith cross that found a pocket of space between the Hearts defenders. Awoudor met the ball and tucked it easily into the near post. In the second half, Awoudor assisted Healy for the third Fort Wayne goal, Healy’s second of the night.

The result also provided an early glimpse of what Fort Wayne's newest additions can contribute.

Kameron Lacey and Logan Neidlinger, entered as substitutes late in the match. Lacey needed only two minutes to make his mark by scoring his first goal of the season and putting an exclamation point on a performance in which Fort Wayne continued to find ways to create danger despite spending much of the match without the ball.

The win was especially important given where both clubs entered the match. Fort Wayne arrived in Portland in 10th place and riding a four-match losing streak. Portland entered 13th and had gone nine matches without a win.

The 4-1 victory doesn't erase the problems that produced the four-match losing streak, but it does provide something Fort Wayne desperately needed: evidence that the team can still produce a complete result.

And perhaps most encouragingly, the victory wasn't dependent on one familiar name, as contributions came throughout the lineup. Healy scored twice. Awoudor finally broke through. Lacey scored two minutes after entering. Jayden Smith provided an assist. JP Jordan returned to the midfield.

It was a good result, but there’s more soccer to play this season and more opportunities for Fort Wayne to continue their climb into a playoff spot.

NEXT MATCH

Fort Wayne welcomes the Richmond Kickers to The Ru this Wednesday night, September 2 in a match that will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm. Get your tickets now and help Fort Wayne fill The Ru.