PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-16 Academy recorded a win and a draw at home to extend their current unbeaten run to six matches, as the Timbers Academy teams played California-based clubs Strikers FC and Pateadores over the weekend at the adidas Timbers Training Center.
The Timbers U-16 Academy claimed a 2-0 win over Strikers FC on Saturday. Defender Peter Prescott (Vancouver, Wash.) tallied his third goal in two games in the 25th minute and midfielder Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) provided the insurance goal, scoring his third goal in two games, in the 65th minute. Goalkeeper Joe Wheelwright (Pleasant View, Utah) started in goal and secured the team’s third straight shutout.
On Sunday, the Timbers U-16s played Pateadores to a 1-1 draw. Kempf (Camas, Wash.) struck for the opening goal in the 61st minute, scoring his sixth goal of the season. Pateadores’ Christian Diaz found the equalizer nine minutes later and his goal snapped the Timbers U-16s run of shutout play at 360 consecutive minutes.
Earning four points over the weekend, the Timbers U-16s improved to 8-6-6 (30pts) and are in fourth place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Northwest Division. Head coach Mike Smith returned to the sidelines after returning from France, where he spent the last few weeks as part of a delegation of academy coaches working towards an Elite Formation Coaching License – all part of a development partnership between MLS and the French Football Federation.
The Timbers U-18 Academy opened the weekend with a 3-3 draw against Strikers FC on Saturday, featuring a hat trick from forward Christian Desir (Portland, Ore.). The Timbers U-18s went down a goal on three occasions and each time Desir pulled the team level, scoring in the 12th, 33rd and 80th minutes. Desir has scored a team-best 10 goals this season and becomes the first Timbers Academy player to score 10 or more goals in a single season.
A 10-man Timbers U-18 side fell 2-0 to Pateadores on Sunday, ending the team’s unbeaten streak at four games. Goalkeeper Collin Partee (Camas, Wash.) was red carded early in the match, called for a foul committed inside the penalty area. Roberto Escudero converted the penalty-kick attempt in the 15th minute to give Pateadores a 1-0 lead at halftime. The visitors scored again in the 56th minute to secure the 2-0 victory, handing the Timbers U-18 Academy their first loss since Feb. 3.
The Timbers U-18s are 8-9-3 (27pts) and remain in fifth place in the Northwest Division for their age group. The matches against Strikers FC and Pateadores were the first home matches for the Timbers Academy since Nov. 3, 2012.
The Timbers Academy play host to Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency and San Juan Soccer Club in their next matches on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, respectively, at the adidas Timbers Training Center. The Timbers U-18s and Whitecaps Residency will kick off at 1 p.m., with the U-16 teams kicking off at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific). Against San Juan, the U-18 teams will square off at 10 a.m. and the U-16s sides at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Timbers U-18s forward Christian Desir contributes to Timbers Reserves win over Seattle
Timbers U-18 Academy forward Christian Desir made a substitute appearance for the Timbers Reserves on Sunday, playing in the team’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves in its 2013 MLS Reserve League season opener.
Desir made his second career MLS Reserve League appearance on Sunday, entering the match in the 89th minute for goal-scorer Jose Valencia. Desir, who has scored six goals in his last three games for the academy, was one of four Timbers U-18 players called up for the Timbers Reserves on Sunday, joining defender Cameron Chesnutt (Portland, Ore.) and midfielders Foster Langsdorf (Vancouver, Wash.) and James Nosack (Ridgefield, Wash.).
