PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Reserves return to action Saturday as they travel to Plant City, Fla., to take on USL PRO club VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium at 4 p.m. (Pacific). A live stream of the match is available at www.uslnation.com.
Saturday’s contest is one of several interleague matches between MLS Reserve League and USL PRO teams this season through a development partnership established between MLS and United Soccer Leagues earlier this year.
The Timbers Reserves and VSI Tampa Bay FC close out a two-match, home-and-away series between the two teams. Midfielder Michael Nanchoff recorded a goal and an assist and forward Jose Valencia tallied the game-winning goal eight minutes from time as the Timbers Reserves claimed a 2-1 victory over VSI Tampa Bay on April 7 at JELD-WEN Field.
With a record of 3-1-1 (10pts), the Timbers Reserves sit in second place in the MLS Reserve League’s West Division.
The Timbers Reserves are coming off of a 1-1 road draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves on May 19 at Thunderbird Stadium. Midfielder Sal Zizzo delivered the equalizer in the 82nd minute off a free kick from just outside the area, and his first goal of the season helped the Timbers Reserves earn a share of the points against their Cascadia rival.
VSI Tampa Bay FC (5-3-0, 15pts) sits in sixth place in the 13-team USL PRO. Since traveling to the Rose City in April, VSI Tampa Bay FC has won four of its last five league games. Additionally, the club reached the second round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Nine different players have found the back of the net for VSI Tampa Bay FC, but forward Mauricio Salles is the team’s leading scorer with three goals, including one against the Timbers Reserves.
With a game-winning goal from midfielder JT Noone, VSI Tampa Bay FC claimed a 1-0 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads in its last match on May 26 at Plant City Stadium. Through the first two full months of its inaugural USL PRO season, VSI Tampa Bay boasts a 4-1-0 record at home.
For more on VSI Tampa Bay, visit www.vsi-fc.com.
