Portland's Kemali Green controls the ball during the Hearts of Pine's 2-1 loss to Rhode Island FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Portland Press Herald

The Portland Hearts of Pine’s memorable U.S. Open Cup run is over.

But the Hearts didn’t go down easily. After giving up two goals in two minutes in the first half against Rhode Island FC, a team from the second-division USL Championship, the third-division Hearts put pressure on to the final seconds before losing 2-1 in Tuesday’s third-round match at Lewiston High.

Portland had won two previous Cup games at Lewiston, taking the club’s debut contest, 4-0 against amateur team CD Faialense of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then upsetting Hartford Athletic, another USL Championship team, tying the game 1-1 late in the second overtime and then winning 4-2 in penalty kicks.

“I think we shocked a lot of people and we really wanted to get it done tonight,” said Hearts rookie forward Titus Washington, who scored his first professional goal in the 65th minute on a strong left-footed shot after a run between defenders. “I think taking from this, we know we have the support. We know we have the people around us. Taking that into (Fitzpatrick Stadium) because our next USL League One game is at home.”

The Hearts (0-1-2 in USL League One) were coming off a tough 2-1 USL1 loss Saturday night in Statesboro, Georgia, against South Georgia Tormenta FC. Their next game will be Saturday, April 26, at Hartford Athletic in the Jaegermeister Cup, an in-season tournament between USL Championship and USL League One teams. Then comes the long-awaited USL1 home opener at Fitzpatrick Stadium on May 4 against One Knoxville.

Titus Washington of the Portland Hearts of Pine points to the Hearts’ bench Tuesday after scoring a goal in the second half. Daryn Slover/Portland Press Herald

Portland had a chance to pull off another Open Cup shocker. After Washington’s goal, the Hearts had the better of play until the final whistle. Nathan Messer just missed high on a long free kick from the right side. Washington had a right-wing shot/cross saved as Evan Southern was closing at the far post.

Finally, as six minutes of added time was winding down, Portland earned a corner kick. Instead of placing the ball in the box, Messer touched it out to late substitute Nathaniel James, a 20-year-old Trinidad and Tobago national player making his first appearance for Portland. James ripped a shot headed that was headed to the top left corner, but Rhode Island goalie Jackson Lee (seven saves) turned it away with a leaping save. One final corner kick ensued. Portland’s Patrick Langlois was able to get his head on the ball, but his attempt skidded well wide.

Portland and Rhode Island had played two preseason scrimmages, both ending in draws. The familiarity led to aggressive play and nine yellow cards, with Rhode Island getting six and Portland three.

In the second half, Rhode Island back Karifa Yao picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. Two yellows equals a red card, so he sat down and Rhode Island had only 10 men on the field at the 79th minute. That advantage for Portland was negated when Mikey Lopez got his second yellow eight minutes later.

Throughout the game, the large crowd that approached 3,000 on a wet Tuesday night was actively involved.

“Nobody was holding anything back and the fan support again was fantastic. I can’t thank this community enough. Lewiston, they’ve turned out three times,” Portland coach Bobby Murphy said. “The atmosphere was great.”

In the first half, after rain had soaked the artificial surface, both teams struggled to find much continuity but Rhode Island showed it could produce dangerous opportunities off both deep throw ins and any sort of set piece kick.

The first goal came in the run of play when a cross from the left to the back post found hard-charging Clay Holstad, who deftly one-timed a hard redirection between the near post and Hearts keeper Hunter Morse in the 35th minute.

The second goal was the result of a set play. A chipped free kick from about 45 yards found the head of Rhode Island’s primary target, JJ Williams, a burly 6-foot-4 forward. Williams’ header was not on target, but two headers by Portland didn’t clear the ball, leaving it instead at the feet of Frank Nodarse, who potted a shot for a 2-0 lead.

“The game turned on two moments. Two moments in two minutes. Goals change games and those certainly did,” Murphy said. “I give the players full credit, 36 hours ago they were on a plane, and to turn around and put in the type of shift they did, no fault.”