View 7 photos

Don’t tell the Portland Hearts of Pine this was a meaningless game.

The Hearts of Pine played up a division, and down a man for well over 60 minutes, but still played to a 2-2 tie and won 5-4 in penalty kicks in a Jagermeister Cup game Friday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

“It was a fantastic performance. I think the most positive aspect of the result was the grit and determination from the lads,” said captain Patrick Langlois, who banged in Portland’s fifth and game-winning penalty kick.

Neither team had a chance of moving out of group play in the Jagermeister Cup, which is an in-season tournament pitting teams from Division Three USL League One, like Portland, against the Division Two USL Championship squads, like Pittsburgh (6-6-4 in USLC), the 2024 Eastern Conference champion.

Portland remains 4-3-8 in USL1, in eighth-place in the 14-team league, and is now 8-6-8 overall and 5-1-2 at Fitzy, including U.S. Open Cup and Jagermeister Cup games.

So, on paper, the result would have no significant impact. But for Portland, which had gone 2-0-2 in its previous four games and has climbed into playoff position in USL1, and the 5,651 fans who had paid to be there, there was plenty to play for, said Titus Washington. Washington and Ollie Wright each had a goal in regulation, an assist, and a PK goal.

“At this level, everything’s for something,” Washington said. “If you’re a team like us and you have momentum building, you don’t want to lose, especially at home. Like (Coach Bobby Murphy) said before the game, ‘this game means nothing, but these people paid good money to be here and we’re going to give them a show, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Tied 2-2 after regulation, the game went immediately to penalty kicks in the Jagermeister format. Hearts keeper Hunter Morse got a save on Pittsburgh’s second attempt, and Portland was perfect, with goals from Wright, JayTee Kamara, Masashi Wada, Washington, and the clincher from Langlois.

Portland ran its unbeaten streak to five games, despite playing with only 10 men after goalie Kash Oladapo, making his fourth start as Morse’s backup, was given a red card for knocking down a Pittsburgh player just outside the box in the 30th minute.

“When you’re down a man, you just have to stay in the game, and that’s what we did,” Murphy said. “No matter who you play, you’re going to get a chance to score, so make sure you’re not down 2-0 when you get that chance.”

Morse had to come in with no warmup and made several key saves. Defender Nathan Messer also helped keep the game scoreless in the first half by clearing a potential goal with a header.

In the 61st minute, Murphy subbed in regular starters Washington at striker and Wright on the left wing. The move paid immediate dividends. Wright took on three defenders on a long run, put on the brakes and created a space to place a spot-on pass to a speeding Washington, who drilled a shot into the net from about 15 yards out for his fifth goal of the season and third in the last three games.

Bertin Jacquesson scored the tying goal for Pittsburgh in the 72nd minute, but Wright and Washington struck again less than a minute later, this time with Washington’s run up the right flank leading to a pass back to the center of the box, where Wright banged in his fifth goal of the season, to go with four assists.

Jacquesson tied the game in the 75th minute on a penalty kick. By the end of regulation, Portland was playing defender Shandon Wright at striker because he was weary and dealing with cramps and could no longer play defense.

Pittsburgh’s veteran manager, Bob Lilley, left Portland impressed with the Hearts of Pine and their fans.

“It’s a great environment. It’s exciting to see that type of fan support for any team,” said Lilley, whose teams routinely play in front of packed crowds at 5,000-seat Highmark Stadium. “They were loud. Tough to give many instructions. Fully behind the home team and they made a difference. They played a long time down a man and they kept the (Hearts’) guys going.”

Murphy said what he’s seeing from his team in recent weeks is a group of players, many new or relatively new to the professional game, learning how to play together as a unit and at a higher level. The Hearts will now take their four-day mental health break, something that is part of the USL Players’ Association negotiated contract.

“It’s something that’s very important as we’re headed into a little break here that we leave here feeling good about where we are,” Murphy said. “Now we’re at the halfway point of the season, and then when we come back to really make a push in the second half.”