Portland Hearts of Pine earned a hard-fought road point in a 0–0 draw with AV Alta, highlighted by a standout performance from backup goalkeeper Kash Oladapo.
Making his first start of the season, Oladapo recorded a clean sheet while facing 21 shots, providing a steady presence for a Portland side that would spend the final 30 minutes down a man. The physical tone of the match was set early when Hearts captain Mikey Lopez picked up a yellow just six minutes into his season debut.
Alta created the first chance in the 20th minute when Cesar Bahena attempted a header off a cross from Adam Aoumaich, but Oladapo was positioned to collect it. Portland responded moments later when Masashi Wada found Ollie Wright at the top of the box, only to see Alta goalkeeper Denzil Smith make the save.
Portland’s offense struggled to gain traction, with few sustained sequences and limited entries into the final third. Alta continued to press, including a dangerous 26th-minute stretch where multiple shots were blocked by a scrambling Portland defense. The physicality continued through the half, with Adam Armour shown a yellow for a hard challenge on what appeared to be a dive from Alta’s Nicholas Relerford, who remained on the pitch until the 69th minute and Jay Tee Kamara picked up a yellow in first-half stoppage time.
The match shifted in the 58th minute when Lopez was shown his second yellow following a collision with Maboumou Alassane, forcing Portland to play the final 30-plus minutes a man down. Alta immediately pressed, controlling possession and keeping Portland pinned deep. Oladapo remained steadfast, making several key stops, while the backline contributed pressure, clearances, and deflections to slow Alta’s momentum. Alta nearly broke through in the 80th minute when back-to-back chances inside the box created a scramble, but Portland defenders blocked both attempts and cleared the danger.
Alta continued to press late, sending repeated balls into the box, but Oladapo was able to keep Alta off the board. Even down to ten men, Portland’s defense remained organized and resilient, securing a road point in the scoreless draw.
Portland continues its early-season road schedule Saturday when Hearts visit expansion side, Sarasota Paradise.
