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Olum Makes Memorable Return to Portland

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/04/17, 9:21AM EST

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Ten years after debut for Timbers in USL, scores first goal in 2017 MLS season


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ten years after he made his professional debut in the USL for the Portland Timbers, Lawrence Olum began the second chapter of his career in the Rose City in fine style.

Making his first Major League Soccer appearance for the Timbers after an offseason move from Sporting Kansas City, Olum scored the first goal of the 2017 MLS season as the Timbers took a 5-1 victory against expansion side Minnesota United FC at Providence Park on Friday night.

Olum’s goal arrived in the 14th minute, as a free kick from the right by Diego Valeri was flicked on at the near post by Vytautas Andriuskevicius, and Olum’s stabbed finish at the back post looped into the right side of the net. The goal was his first as a Timber since August 22, 2008, according to Timbers statistician Mike Donovan, when the side fell 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the USL First Division.

The goal also helped spoil the evening of Olum’s former Head Coach, Adrian Heath, who led Minnesota into its first game in Major League Soccer on Friday. The 2011 USL Coach of the Year with Orlando City SC, Heath teamed up with Olum during both the 2010 season with Austin, and when the Lions claimed the 2011 USL Cup title, a victory that saw Olum find the net against the Harrisburg City Islanders before the Lions won in a penalty shootout.

The night saw some more history as former USL standout Christian Ramirez scored on his MLS debut for Minnesota, tallying the first goal for the club in the top flight with 11 minutes to go. Ramirez recorded eight goals in the 2013 USL regular season for the Charlotte Eagles, and then scored twice in the 2013 USL Cup Final, only for Charlotte to fall 7-4 to Orlando behind current Sporting Kansas City standout Dom Dwyer’s four-goal performance.

A pair of goals apiece from Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi saw the Timbers pull away late to earn an emphatic victory. The night at least in part belonged to Olum, however, who nine years after his last goal for Portland had come in a losing effort helped the Timbers open the 2017 MLS season on the right foot.

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