TUMWATER, Wash. – Forward Zack Foxhoven delivered the game-winning goal late in the match and goalkeeper David Meves recorded his fifth shutout as the Portland Timbers U-23s captured a hard-fought 1-0 road win over division-rival Sounders FC U-23 at Tumwater District Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After being handed their first loss earlier this week, the Timbers U-23s responded by earning their second road win of the season. The Timbers U-23s defense turned in its fourth shut-out performance in the last five games, keeping the match within reach. Foxhoven notched the game’s lone goal in the 83rd minute, 12 minutes after entering the match as a second-half sub.
With the win, the Timbers U-23s (5-1-1, 16pts) regained sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division and snapped Sounders FC U-23s’ three-game winning streak.
Foxhoven scored his second goal of the season, midfielder Nick Palodichuk recorded his first assist and forward Mark Sherrod took a team-high three shots for the Timbers U-23s. Meves made three saves to secure his Premier Development League-leading fifth clean sheet.
Forward Sean Okoli attempted a game-high four shots, defender Stephen Mohn took three shots and goalkeeper Zac Lubin recorded three saves for Sounders FC U-23 (3-3-1, 10pts) in their first regular-season loss since May 19, ending a four-game unbeaten run overall.
The two sides exchanged scoring chances throughout the match, but the Timbers U-23s finally broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining. The ball was played by defender Evyn Hewett to Palodichuk who then found Foxhoven in the left side of the penalty area. Foxhoven found enough space and hit a shot inside the far side of the goal for his second goal of the season against Sounders FC U-23.
Foxhoven’s strike was the first goal allowed by the Sounders FC U-23 defense in four games.
Among their chances, the Timbers U-23s had two quality looks on goal in the second half. Midfielder Gabriel Conelian had a shot rattle the crossbar around the hour mark and Sherrod drove a header just wide of the target in the 81st minute.
Portland’s defense made a key play in the 57th minute clearing a dangerous ball off the goal line following a Sounders FC U-23 corner kick. The near post kept a shot by Okoli from finding the back of the net in the 89th minute.
The Timbers U-23s conclude their four-game road stretch on Saturday, June 15, as they travel to face the Kitsap Pumas at Gordon Field in Bremerton, Wash.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Notes: The Timbers U-23s reached the midway point in their 2013 PDL campaign, playing their seventh match of the season on Sunday … The Timbers U-23s have won each of the first two matches against Sounders FC U-23 this season, winning the 2013 season series between the two rivals. They meet a third time in the regular-season finale on July 16 in Oregon … Portland improves to 2-1-1 on the road this season … The Timbers U-23s backline has allowed just one goal over its last five regular-season matches.
