TIGARD, Ore. –The Portland Timbers U-23s dictated the flow of the match, holding Calgary Foothills FC to no shots on goal in the second half, while recording their second shutout of the 2015 Premier Development League (PDL) season in a scoreless draw at Tigard High School in Tigard, Ore., on Sunday afternoon.
Facing Calgary for a second consecutive match, the Timbers U-23s (2-1-2, 8pts) registered five shots on goal, including a late first-half opportunity by midfielder Todd Wharton. The midfielder delivered a well-struck shot from outside the penalty box that forced Calgary goalkeeper Sean Melvin to make a fingertip save. Wharton and midfielder Adrien Perez each finished with a team-high three shots for the Timbers U-23s.
With the draw, the Timbers U-23s and Calgary Foothills FC (1-1-4, 7pts) finish their regular-season series with consecutive draws, following a 1-1 deadlock on June 2 in Calgary.
Searching for the go-ahead goal late in the match, Perez raced ahead of Calgary defenders putting a touch on a chipped ball in the middle of the penalty box before Melvin rushed off his line to stop the threat in the 88th minute. Melvin made several key stops for Calgary, finishing with five saves in the match.
The Timbers U-23s outshot Calgary 15-8 and limited Foothills FC to just one shot on goal in the match – an attempt from midfielder Mitch Bauche that saw Timbers U-23s goalkeeper Collin Partee make a leaping save in the 14th minute. Portland saw a close chance miss in the 79th minute as midfielder Greg Timmer fired a shot from the right side of the penalty box that struck the post.
Portland plays its second match of a four-game home stretch on Saturday, June 13, against the Washington Crossfire at Delta Park in Portland, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Scoring Summary
None
Misconduct Summary
POR: Barnathan (Caution), 36
CAL: Hickson (Caution), 54
CAL: Ramsey (Caution), 61
POR: Sullivan (Caution), 70
POR: Perez (Caution), 81
Lineups
POR: GK Collin Partee, D Sheldon Sullivan (White, 77), D Dakota Barnathan, D Devon Fisher, D Dennis Castillo, M Todd Wharton ©, M Dewey Lewis (De Vera, 64), M Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Perez, 53), M Geoffrey Dee, F Anthony Macchione (Alvarado,59), F Andrew Lubahn (Timmer, 71)
Subs Not Used: GK Trevor Wilson, D Kyle Adams
CAL: GK Sean Melvin, D Dean Northover, D Jonathan Whelldon ©, D Dominic Zator, D Massimo Megna, M Elijah Adekugbe (Anderson, 81), M Mitch Bauche, M Tim Hickson, F Nic Reyes (Hutchings, 64), F Dominic Russo, F Vito Poletto (Ramsay, 22)(Romeo, 64)
Subs Not Used: GK Nolan Wirth, D Jean-Pierre Rodrigues-Lemos, D Brad Kamden
Referee: Lucas Brooks
Assistant Referees: Ben Goodman, J.J. Blodgett
4th Official: Patrick Fisher
