PORTLAND
, Ore.
– Forward George Josten and trialist midfielder Rodrigo Lopez scored in each half as the Portland Timbers played English Premier League club Burnley FC to a 2-2 draw in an international exhibition before 9,078 at PGE Park Saturday. Burnley then captured the win in a penalty-kick shootout.
The two sides traded leads throughout the match, with the Timbers striking first on a goal by George Josten. Burnley scored back-to-back goals to take the lead 2-1, before Lopez delivered the equalizer in the final 10 minutes.
Locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation, the game was decided in a shootout from the penalty spot. Burnley converted four of its first four attempts to capture the win on penalties 4-2.
Burnley visited Portland while on a week-long preseason tour of the United States. Burnley is preparing for its return to the English Premier League, England’s top tier, for the 2009-10 season, where they will face some of the world’s top clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Portland took an early lead in the 11th minute on a breakaway by Josten. Defender Cameron Knowles played the ball over the top for Josten 30 yards out from goal. Josten turned and charged up field with only the goalkeeper in front of him. As Josten entered the box, Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen charged the play, but Josten found the open space and drilled a shot into the back of the net for the lead.
Keith Savage nearly doubled the Timbers advantage in the 27th minute with a header on the doorstep. Josten served a cross into the box for Savage 10 yards out. Savage lined a shot on frame but it landed right in the hands of Jensen on the goal line.
Burnley leveled the score in the 40th minute. Awarded a free kick 40 yards out from goal on the right side, veteran forward Robbie Blake delivered a pin-point cross to defender Steven Caldwell on the back post. Caldwell, who faced the Timbers back in 2005 while with English side Sunderland, bounced in a header to knot the score a 1-1.
The Timbers responded a moment later with a series of shots inside the box, but Jensen turned in two key saves to keep the score locked. Midfielder Ryan Pore set himself up for a shot from 12 yards with a cheeky touch just outside the box. Pore rocketed a shot from the left side at the far post that was saved with a diving effort from Jensen. Forward Jason McLaughlin then fired a follow up shot on frame that was tipped over the bar.
A timely sequence of passes by Burnley in the 67th minute set the visitors up to take the lead. The play started in the back with midfielder Kevin McDonald, who found former Manchester United defender Richard Eckersley on an overlapping run down the right side. Eckersley whipped a cross into the box to Thompson crashing through. Thompson, who entered the match just a minute prior, one-timed the ball into the back of the net.
Portland pulled even at 2-2 in the 82nd minute, when Lopez curled in a free kick from 20 yards out into the top right corner of the goal.
With the match tied at the end of regulation, the winner was decided in a penalty-kick shootout at north goal. After the first two attempts were saved by the respective goalkeepers, midfielder Chris Eagles gave Burnley the advantage when he put his shot from the spot in. Burnley would score on their next three takes with midfielder Wade Elliott sealing the shoot-out win 4-2. Portland’s Steve Cronin and defender Mamadou Danso converted for the Timbers.
Portland returns to league action on Saturday, Aug. 1 on the road against the Minnesota Thunder at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific).
Notes:
Burnley FC debuted their new 2009-10 season home uniforms Saturday. They are a replica of the 1959-60 season kits, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the club’s first-division championship season … Burnley dealt the Timbers their first loss to an English club since 2001 … Portland is now 8-2-1 against international opponents as a member of the USL First Division.
Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Knowles, D Higgins (Thompson, 88), D Nishimura, D Danso, M Farber, M McManus (Poltl, 88), M Savage (Lopez, 57), M Pore (Nimo, 45), F McLaughlin (Forrest, 45), F Josten (Cameron, 72)
BFC: GK Jensen, D Mears (Duff, 59), D Kalvenes (Eckersley, 59), D Carlisle (Jordan, 59), D Caldwell, M Alexander (McDonald, 59), M McCann (Gudjonsson, 59), M Guerrero, M Elliot, F Fletcher (Thompson, 66), F Blake (Eagles, 59)
Scoring Summary:
POR: Josten (Knowles), 11
BFC: Caldwell (Blake), 40
BFC: Thompson (Eckersley), 67
POR: Lopez, 82
Shootout Summary:
BFC: Caldwell - Save (0-0)
POR: Forrest - Save (0-0)
BFC: Eagles - Goal (1-0)
POR: Cronin - Goal (1-1)
BFC: Gudjonsson - Goal (2-1)
POR: Danso - Goal (2-2)
BFC: McDonald - Goal (3-2)
POR: Nimo - Save (3-2)
BFC: Elliot - Goal (4-2)
