PORTLAND — The Portland Hearts of Pine played to another sellout crowd Sunday at Fitzpatrick Stadium. This time the hearty souls who braved rainy weather were rewarded.
The Hearts played in a pressing, effective style reminiscent of the 2025 season when they came a penalty kick away from reaching the USL League One final and matched their season-best two-game winning streak by beating AV Alta FC, 1-0, with center back Serigne Mbacke Faye’s added time header goal off a corner kick.
“I’m happy. But it’s not only for me, it’s for the team. And for the fans who help support the team every game. This win is for us. For the city,” Faye said.
It was a dramatic win for Portland, reversing a season-long narrative of being the team that gave up late goals in disheartening losses and disappointing ties.
“I think it felt like us from the start,” said Portland coach Bobby Murphy. “That’s the way we want to play. We want to smother people, get in people’s faces and make it hard. Tonight felt like that.”
Portland improved to 7-11-8, with six games left in the regular season. The Hearts are in 11th place in the 17-team league with 29 points. The top eight make the tournament and No. 8 Fort Wayne has 36 points. Portland is at sixth-place Chattanooga on Saturday.
“Mathematically it’s definitely possible. I’ve looked at all the scenarios,” said center back Brecc Evans. “So I believe we know we can do it.”
Evans helped Portland post its first shutout since the home opener against One Knoxville way back on April 11. AV Alta (8-11-8) lost its fifth straight match and generated one shot on goal that Hearts keeper Hunter Morse knocked away in the 12th minute.
Portland had a 19-7 edge in overall shots.
RUN OF PLAY
Over the match’s final 80-plus minutes, Portland was in control, starting with the pressing play of striker Aboubacar Camara and midfielders Diego Gonzalez and Matteo Kidd.
Noticeable improvement came in the form of players making runs into space, including right back Mo Mohamed, with wing midfielder Jay Tee Kamara getting both inside and on the flank to create opportunities for himself and others.
Portland also had a relatively consistent lineup for the third straight game. For most of the season the starters were a mix from game to game. Nine players have started the last three games, with 10 starting the past two wins. Kamara was the lone newcomer in the starting lineup Sunday.
“I think continuity is a big thing. I think there are probably other guys who could step in but we just settled on a group,” Murphy said.
FROM TRIALIST TO CONTRIBUTOR
Former trialist Diego Letayf Escutia is part of the new group.
A former Georgetown University player who helped Vermont Green win the 2026 USL2 championship, Letayf Escutia made his third straight start as a holding midfielder, adding grit and strength to the center of the pitch.
Prior to signing his first pro contract on Aug. 17, Letayf Escutia played in a mid-season friendly as an unnamed player designated as “trialist 72.”
“To take that next step from Trialist 72 to a player has been awesome,” Letayf Escutia said.
Letayf Escutia showed increased willingness to actively make a play, be it a hard, clean tackle or a step forward to create some offensive flow. He also among those who believe a magical run to the playoffs is still possible.
“We definitely feel more confident now but once the snowball gets going, we still really believe and want to give it everything for these fans and this community,” Letayf Escutia said.