MIAMI, Florida (CMC):
FORMER BRAZILIAN World Cup star Romario hit two goals and Jamaican Sean Fraser tallied another for Miami FC to beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 Friday night for their first United Soccer Leagues (USL) first division win.
In front of 2,433 fans at Tropical Park Stadium, Romario sealed a fine win for the home side with an 89th minute strike that completed Miami's exciting come-from-behind performance for the home fans.
Romario, who joined the expansion club recently from Vasco da Gama in Brazil, got his second goal and the match winner when he headed in a floating cross at the back post moments before the final whistle.
Miami evened the game just six minutes later when Romario collected a cross - on his chest - from Mario Rodriquez and smashed in his first goal for Miami, from 12 yards.
The 23-year-old Fraser increased Miami's lead in the 51st minute when he struck his first goal for Miami FC.
Fraser received a pass just outside the penalty box and hit a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and fell over the goal-line.
Then a minute before the final whistle, Romario headed Oscar Gil's cross past diving Portland keeper Josh Saunders to snatch the win.
"I was happy to get the two goals, but happier to help the team win," said the two-time Brazilian World Cup player.
The Timbers had grabbed an early lead when Mamba Chisoni, on debut for the Timbers, deflected in an intended back-pass to the Miami goalkeeper Chris Doyle in the seventh minute.
Portland would level the score again when Chisoni was fouled in the box in the 84th minute, allowing midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar to score from the penalty spot into the bottom right corner to even the score at 2-2.
