SPOKANE, Wash.
– Forward Brian Ramsey scored a pair of goals late to help the Portland Timbers U-23s open a two-game road trip with a 3-0 win over the Spokane Spiders at Joe Albi Stadium on Friday night.
Ramsey scored his first two goals of the season, midfielder Freddie Braun scored the go-ahead goal in the first half and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson turned in his second straight shutout for the Timbers U-23s (3-0-0, 9pts) in their first road match of the 2010 Premier Development League season.
The Timbers U-23s move into share of first place in the Northwest Division with the Kitsap Pumas and Victoria Highlanders all at nine points.
Braun put the Timbers U-23s on the board before the half hour mark. Receiving the ball at the top of the box, Braun unleashed a low hard shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead over the Spiders (0-3-0, 0pts).
Entering the match as a sub, Ramsey logged his brace inside the final 20 minutes of the contest. He scored his first goal of the match, and of the season, after he stole ball from a defender and was able to convert his first shot of the night to double the Timbers U-23s' advantage 2-0.
Ramsey tallied again before the end of regulation, capping the scoring on the night for Portland. On another hard-working play, he was able to win possession of the ball and forced a one-on-one with the Spokane goalkeeper. Ramsey curled a shot from inside the box into the back of the net.
The Timbers U-23s finish their road trip on Saturday in Washington as they take on the Yakima Reds at 7 p.m.
Notes:
With the win, the Timbers U-23s improve to 3-0-0 in qualification matches for the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ... The Timbers U-23s' backline has allowed only one goal in its first three games of the season ... Ramsey joins forward Brent Richards as the Timbers U-23s' leading scorer with two goals.
