YAKIMA, Wash.
– Forwards Roberto Farfan and Ricky Abrego each scored their first goals of the season to lead the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 2-0 win over the Yakima Reds at Marquette Stadium on Saturday night.
Farfan tallied the go-ahead goal, forward Brian Ramsey logged his first assist of the season and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson turned in his third straight shut-out performance to lead the Timbers U-23s (4-0-0, 12pts) to their fourth straight victory to open the season.
With the win, the Timbers U-23s move into a three-way tie for first place in the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division with the Kitsap Pumas and Victoria Highlanders with 12 points.
Playing their second game in two days, the Timbers U-23s took a 1-0 lead over Yakima (0-3-0, 0pts) in the first half on a strike by Farfan. Off of a throw in, Ramsey flicked the ball into the box. On a full volley, Farfan blasted his shot past Reds goalkeeper Claudio Lazar.
Abrego capitalized on a loose ball in the 83rd minute to double the Timbers U-23s lead. The Reds were able to clear out an initial corner kick by the Timbers U-23s, and then deflected a follow-up shot inside the box. The ball landed at the feet of Abrego, and uncontested, he was able to slot the ball into the back of the net.
The Timbers U-23s play host to the Victoria Highlanders on Sunday, May 30, at PGE Park at 11 a.m. The original date and venue for the Timbers U-23s’ match against Victoria was changed to accommodate the USSF Division-2 Pro League Portland Timbers’ friendly against Argentina’s Boca Juniors scheduled on May 29. Tickets for the matchup on May 30 start at $5 and will be available to purchase at the PGE Park box office.
Notes:
The Timbers U-23s also improved to 4-0-0 in qualifications matches for the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with the win Saturday, but Kitsap, also with four wins in its qualification matches, received the bid from the Northwest Division due to a goal differential tiebreaker … Timbers U-23s have not allowed a goal in 291 minutes of play … Former Timbers first team midfielder Jake Sagare (2002-04) is a current member of the Yakima Reds.
