LANGFORD, B.C.
- Portland Timbers U-23s forward
Ryan Youngblood
had a goal and an assist to lead the Timbers U-23s to a 2-1 victory over the Victoria Highlanders at City Centre Stadium on Friday.
Youngblood scored his third goal of the season off a free kick from defender
Logan Emory
in the 26th minute and then assisted on a goal by midfielder
Avneet Shergill
in the 50th minute.
The Highlanders were able to sneak in a goal late in the 87th minute to cut the Timbers U-23s lead to one.
Youngblood opened the scoring for the Timbers U-23s when Emory sent in a free kick from 40 yards out that found Youngblood alone in the box. Youngblood out-jumped Highlanders goalkeeper
Daniel Kilpatrick
and headed the ball into the net to give the Timbers U-23s a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Youngblood guided the Timbers U-23s to a 2-0 lead when he flicked the ball on for Shergill, who dribbled past Kilpatrick and slotted the ball into the goal.
Victoria’s pulled one back in the 87th minute, but the Timbers U-23s held on through three minutes of second half stoppage time to extend their winning streak to three matches.
The Timbers U-23s finish their two-game road trip Saturday against the Kitsap Pumas at Bremerton Memorial High School Stadium in Bremerton, Wash. They return home on Sunday June 21 as they play host to the Tacoma Tide at Lincoln Park Stadium in Forest Grove, Ore.
Notes:
Forward
Steven Evans
earned his first start of the season … Emory’s assist was his second this season … Youngblood recorded his first assist on the season ... Portland goalkeeper Garrett Staples logged a season-high eight saves to pick up the win ... Victoria out-shot the Timbers U-23s 16-9.
Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Staples, D Leach, D Emory, D Guante, D Flunder, M Erskine, M vanSchaik, M Shergill, M Crasilneck, F Youngblood, F Evans
VIC: GK Kilpatrick, D Diaz, D Veenholf, D Robertson, D Van Den Bowen, M McFarlane, M Pele, M Hunter, M Devenish, F Gawrys, F Hughes
