PORTLAND, Ore.– A second-half goal by forward Eddie Johnson helped the Portland Timbers Reserves to a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves in an MLS Reserve League match at JELD-WEN Field on Tuesday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half, Johnson’s strike broke the deadlock in the 64th minute off an assist from midfielder Sal Zizzo. San Jose leveled the score four minutes later on a 25-yard shot by defender Chris Leitch, but it was Earthquakes defender Brandon McDonald’s own goal midway through the second half that lifted the Timbers to the 2-1 win.
Johnson scored his third goal in the last two Reserve League matches, while Zizzo logged his first assist to lead the Timbers Reserves (2-2-1, 7pts) to their second win of the MLS Reserve League campaign.
Leitch tallied his first goal in his second Reserve League appearance as the Earthquakes Reserves (3-2-0, 9pts) had a string of back-to-back wins snapped in just their second loss of the season.
An intercepted pass by Zizzo at midfield led to the Timbers Reserves’ opening goal. Zizzo found Johnson with a pass at the top of the box, and the forward was able to slip a shot between Earthquakes goalkeeper Andrew Weber and a defender into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
San Jose equalized in the 68th minute, when Leitch ran on to a deflected ball just beyond the arch and hammered a shot into the top left corner of the goal.
It was Zizzo in the 72nd minute who initiated the play which led to the own goal by the Earthquakes’ McDonald. Along the byline on the right side, Zizzo tried to slot a pass through the six-yard box and as McDonald attempted to clear it away, he knocked the ball into the back of his own net.
Portland midfielder Brian Umony had the best scoring chance for either team in the first half, putting a shot from the top left corner of the six-yard box off the crossbar. Earthquakes midfielders Scott Sealy and Ellis McLoughlin forced Timbers goalkeeper Adin Brown to make two saves in the first half, with shots from the edge of the box.
The Timbers Reserves make the return trip to play the Earthquakes Reserves in San Jose in their next Reserve League match on Sunday, Aug. 7. The Earthquakes Reserves play host to the Chivas USA Reserves in their next match Tuesday, July 26.
Portland Timbers Reserves (2-2-1, 7pts) vs. San Jose Earthquakes Reserves (3-2-0, 9pts)
June 21, 2011 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.
MLS Reserve League
Scoring Summary:
POR: Johnson (Zizzo), 64
SJ: Leitch, 68
POR: Own Goal (McDonald), 72
Lineups:
POR: GK Adin Brown (Jake Gleeson, 46), D Freddie Braun, D Tony McManus, D Kevin Goldthwaite (Rodrigo Lopez, 46), D Chris Taylor, M Sal Zizzo (Jesus Gonzalez, 72), M Adam Moffat (Ross Smith, 88), M Ryan Pore ©, M Brian Umony, F Eddie Johnson, F Cillian Sheridan (Sean Morris, 86)
Substitutes Not Used: n/a
SJ: GK Andrew Weber, D Justin Morrow, D Brandon McDonald ©, D Kyle Kaveny (Travis Pillon, 80), D Chris Leitch, M Ellis McLoughlin, M Scott Sealy (Gino Bosz, 86), M Tim Ward, M Joey Gjertsen, F Matt Luzunaris, F Pedro Mendez (Viet Nguyen, 24)
Substitutes Not Used: GK David Bingham, Paulo Mendez, F Steven Lenhart
Misconduct Summary:
SJ: Morrow (Caution), 36
POR: Sheridan (Caution), 55
Referee: Josh Wilkens
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Paul Notham
4th Official: Lucas Brooks
Attendance: 1,389
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
