The Timbers Academy teams logged positive results over the weekend as the Timbers U-18s overcame two, one-goal deficits to notch a 2-2 draw against Crossfire Premier U-18s and the Timbers U-16s netted a late game-winning goal for a 3-2 victory against Crossfire Premier U-16s on Saturday at the adidas Timbers Training Center in Beaverton, Ore.
The result for the Timbers U-16s (5-3-2, 17pts) builds on the team’s recent stretch of strong performances as the side has logged a 5-1-1 record in its last seven regular-season matches. After conceding the opening goal in the 27th minute to Crossfire Premier U-16s, Jose Perez (McMinnville, Ore.) tallied the next two goals for the Timbers U-16s just before halftime as Portland took a 2-1 lead into the interval. Perez’s brace gives him a team-high eight goals in 10 games this season, which ranks fourth overall in the 19-team West Conference.
Crossfire Premier found the equalizer in the 74th minute, but Carlos Anguiano (Salem, Ore.) tallied the game-winning goal for the Timbers U-16s in the 77th minute. The goal was Anguiano’s third of the season.
After a scoreless first half, the Timbers U-18s conceded the opening goal to Crossfire Premier U-18s in the 52nd minute. Josh Varon (Bakersfield, Calif.) found the equalizer for the Timbers U-18s just five minutes later in the 57th minute. The score remained level until the 75th minute when Crossfire Premier grabbed another one-goal advantage. Once again, the Timbers U-18s found the game-tying goal as Elijah Kilmer (Bend, Ore.) scored in the 80th minute.
The Timbers U-18s (1-7-2, 5pts) saw a couple late chances at the game-winner just miss as the side finished with a 13-6 advantage in shots while also earning 56 percent of the possession during the match against a Crossfire Premier team with seven wins on the season.
At the U-14 level, the Timbers U-14 team played its first competitive matches as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-14 West Regional Showcase from Nov. 15-16 at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif.
Up next for the Timbers Academy is the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase from Nov. 28-Dec. 3 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The Timbers U-18s will square off against the Chicago Fire U-18s on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10:15 a.m. (Pacific). The Timbers U-18s will then face the Montreal Impact U-18s on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. (Pacific) and Colorado Rush U-18s on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 a.m. (Pacific) to close out the showcase.
The Timbers U-16s showcase schedule features games against the Sporting Kansas City U-16s on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 8 a.m. (Pacific), Chicago Fire U-16s on Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 a.m. (Pacific) and Weston FC U-16s on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 6 a.m. (Pacific).
