PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Benji Michel made it four straight games with a goal and the Pilots rallied for a 2-1 win over the Cal Poly Mustangs at the Nike Portland Invitational on Monday night at Merlo Field. Michel's goal, which came in the 80th minute, is his second game-winner of the season.
 
It was set up by a perfect ball whipped in by Rey Ortiz towards the top of the six-yard box. Michel got to it and finished with a powerful header into the right corner of the net. Michel has now scored a goal in every game this season, and Ortiz claims assist number one.
 
Previously the Pilots (3-0-1) leveled the score courtesy an own goal in the 70th minute, which was also caused by Michel. The forward had possession inside the area before driving a ball across the goal mouth. That's where it took a deflection off a sliding Cal Poly defender before ending up in the back of the net.
 
In the first half the Mustangs (1-2-1) jumped ahead 1-0 when Diego Alonso found Eddie Melgoza with a nice pass through traffic inside the 18-yard box. Melgoza then finished with a low shot inside the left post to hand the visiting side the edge in the 33rd minute. It's his first goal of the year, and Emmanuel Perez also earned an assist on the play.
 
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Pilots came out of the locker room in the second half as the more aggressive side. Portland controlled possession for long stretches of time, and they consistently created chances in the final third, which culminated with the own goal and Michel's game-winner.
 
In the 79th minute, Ortiz hit the cross bar as he bent a free kick in from about 22 yards out, and that close call was followed by the Michel goal not even a minute later.
 
Michel also drilled a shot towards the frame in the 82nd minute that was saved, and Caua Soares hit one that was corralled by Cal Poly keeper Simon Boehme in the 84th minute.
 
Portland goalkeeper Kienan Weekes finished with three saves on the night, while Boehme countered with four.
 
Next weekend the Pilots remain at home to host the Jacksonville Dolphins on Saturday night, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.