PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s hit the road for a second consecutive match to take on the Kitsap Pumas on Saturday at Gordon Park Field in Bremerton, Wash.; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Portland (0-0-2, 2pts) enters Saturday’s match after registering back-to-back draws in its first two games of the 2014 PDL regular-season, including a 1-1 draw against Puget Sound Gunners FC on May 17 at Mount Si High School Stadium in Snoqualmie, Wash.
Squaring off against Kitsap (0-0-2, 2pts) in the first of two regular-season matches in 2014, the Timbers U-23s are unbeaten in four consecutive games (2-0-2) against the Pumas, including a 1-0 win on June 21, 2013, at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie, Ore. Portland has compiled a 2-1-4 road record against Kitsap in all competitions since 2009, including four consecutive draws.
Individually, midfielder Fatai Alashe has scored a goal in back-to-back matches for Portland, leading the team with two goals this season while forward Kharlton Belmar has tallied one goal.
Kitsap enters Saturday’s match following a 1-1 draw against Victoria Highlanders FC on May 17 at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C. Midfielder Tommy Catalano gave Kitsap an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the 17th minute, but Highlanders FC found the equalizer in the 78th minute. Catalano and midfielder Septi Danciu have each scored a goal for Kitsap through the first two matches of the season.
Following Saturday’s match, the Timbers U-23s return to the Rose City to play host to Puget Sound Gunners FC on Friday, May 30, in a Providence Health & Fitness Day match at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (Pacific). Tickets for the match are available online or at the Providence Park box office.
Alashe, Belmar named to honorable mention list for PDL Team of the Week
Timbers U-23s midfielder Fatai Alashe (above, left) and forward Kharlton Belmar (above, right) were named to the honorable mention list for the PDL Team of the Week for Week 3 of the regular season. Alashe has tallied a goal in consecutive matches for Portland, notching the game-tying goal on May 17 in a 1-1 draw against Puget Sound Gunners FC, while Belmar scored in a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 on May 15 in the 2014 PDL season-opening match for the Timbers U-23s at Providence Park.
