SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Alejandro Pereira found the back of the net in the second half and the Pilots nearly connected with the equalizer multiple times late in the game, but in the end the San Francisco Dons held on for a 2-1 upset of No. 7 Portland on a foggy and windy Friday night at Negoesco Stadium. The loss is the first of the season for the Pilots, who had been riding a 13-match unbeaten streak.
 
Down 2-0 in the 74th minute, Rey Ortiz did well to control a long pass, created some space right of the 18-yard box, and sent a perfectly placed ball towards the far post. That's where Pereira elevated and finished with a header to cut into the deficit with his third goal of the year.
 
From there the Pilots pressured the final third continually and created numerous chances. R.J. Stretch had a shot saved in the 82nd minute, and Pereira sent one high moments later.
 
In the 87th minute, Malcolm Dixon, who finished the night with four shots, nearly leveled the score, but his shot rattled the crossbar as the game remained 2-1 in USF's favor. In the 88th minute Dixon hit one wide, and Ortiz did the same in the 89th minute as the Dons held on for the stunning win.
 
At 10-1-3 (2-1-1 WCC), the Pilots are still off to the fourth best start to a season in program history.
 
The Dons, who improve to 4-9-1 and to 2-2-0 in the WCC, jumped ahead 1-0 with their first goal in the 14th minute. David Polson sent a ball in from left of the 18 towards the top of the six-yard box. Cameron Martin flicked it into in the far corner of the net with an impressive goal to make it 1-0.
 
Pereira had a good chance to even the score in the 28th minute, but had a header saved, and USF's keeper Ruben Stuiver made another nice stop on a header from Benji Michel in the 31st minute to preserve the Dons' lead.
 
In the 36th minute Gio Magana-Rivera almost provided the goal of the year when he hit a shot with the outside of his foot from a tough angle, looking for the upper 90. But the shot was just wide, and the two teams entered the break with San Francisco nursing a slight lead.
 
The Dons pushed their edge to 2-0 in the 59th minute when the home side was awarded a penalty, and Santiago DiGiuseppe slotted it in for his team-best fourth goal of the year.
 
Portland tried to respond with a Dixon shot moments later, but it was wide left, and the senior forward had a header denied in the 70th minute on a nice cross sent in by Stretch.
 
The Pilots finished with an 18-15 edge in shots, and Portland had six corners to San Francisco's one.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a short trek south for a match on Sunday against the Santa Clara Broncos. Kickoff for Portland and SCU is set for 7 p.m.