REDMOND, Wash. – The Portland Timbers U-23s extended their season-opening unbeaten streak to two straight games with a 3-2 win against Washington Crossfire in their first road game of the 2015 PDL season on Tuesday night at Redmond High School in Redmond, Wash.
The Timbers U-23s (2-0-0, 6pts) received three first-half goals to give Portland back-to-back wins as forward Ben White tallied what would stand as the game-winning goal in first-half stoppage time. The goal marked White’s second in as many matches.
Portland jumped out to an early lead as midfielder James Moberg received an assist from defender Dennis Castillo to put the Timbers U-23s up 1-0 in the 14th minute. Washington quickly answered back with a header in the 23rd minute by forward Hamza Haddadi, set up by a free kick outside of the box. Castillo gave the Timbers U-23s a 2-1 lead in the 35th minute off an assist from forward Geoffrey Dee. Castillo recorded his first goal and second assist of the season while Dee also tallied his second assist.
Washington Crossfire (0-1-0, 0pts), playing host to the Timbers U-23s in their 2015 season opener, leveled the score in the 40th minute when Haddadi converted a penalty kick following a Portland foul in the box. Haddadi’s brace leveled the match until White’s goal solidified the Timbers U-23s victory.
The Timbers U-23s return home to square off against the Kitsap Pumas in the second Providence Health & Fitness Day match at Providence Park on Friday, May 29; kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. (Pacific).
Scoring Summary:
POR: Moberg (Castillo), 14
WASH: Haddadi (Poplawski), 23
POR: Castillo (Dee), 35
WASH: Haddadi (penalty kick), 40
POR: White, 45
Misconduct Summary:
WASH: Beau (Caution), 4
WASH: Campbell (Caution), 28
POR: Lewis (Caution), 38
WASH: Schmidt (Caution), 50
WASH: Poplawski (Caution), 91
Lineups:
POR: GK Auden Schilder, D Dennis Castillo, D Devon Fisher, D Dewey Lewis, D Sheldon Sullivan, M Todd Wharton©, M Greg Timmer (Varon, 78), M James Moberg, F Ben White, F Ivan Alvarado (Martinez, 83), F Geoffrey Dee
Subs Not Used: GK Partee, GK Wilson, M Shaw, M Baez, F Adams, F Kempf.
Referee: Levi Rippy
Assistant Referees: Charles Spaniola
4th Official: Brydon Eakins
