PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s return to their Premier Development League (PDL) schedule Saturday as they play host to Victoria Highlanders FC at Alder Creek Middle School; kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Tickets for Saturday’s match will be available at the door; gates open at 6 p.m.
The Timbers U-23s face their second game this week after playing in a first-round match in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. The Timbers U-23s fell 3-1 to PSA Elite as midfielder Eric Miller scored the lone goal in his team debut for the Timbers U-23s.
In league play, the Timbers U-23s (1-0-0, 3pts) opened the PDL season May 11 with a 3-0 win over Fraser Valley at JELD-WEN Field. Forward Mark Sherrod scored two goals for Portland, and on Thursday was named to the PDL Team of the Week for his performance.
The Timbers U-23s and Highlanders FC (0-0-2, 2 pts) play a two-game, regular-season series in 2012. Portland is 3-1-2 in the all-time series against Victoria. In 2011, Portland fell 1-0 to Victoria in the first game of the season on May 7 and the teams drew 1-1 on July 16. The Timbers U-23s visit Highlanders FC at Royal Athletic Park later this season on June 30.
Victoria opened its 2012 season with back-to-back 1-1 draws against the Seattle Sounders U23 on May 12 and Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 on May 13. Saturday’s match kicks off a stretch of three straight road games for Highlanders FC.
In 2012 Highlanders FC return 13 players from their 2011 squad, including forward Jordan Hughes, who has led the team in goals scored three straight seasons from 2009-11.
