BURNABY, B.C. –
Midfielder Tracy Hasson logged a key assist and midfielder Freddie Braun scored the go-ahead goal with his third strike of the season to lead the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at Simon Fraser University on Sunday.
Hasson recorded his third assist of the season, midfielder Roberto Farfan scored his second goal on the road trip and forward Brent Richards tallied his fifth goal in six games to guide the Timbers U-23s to their team-record, ninth straight win.
Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson made four saves to aid in the seventh shutout of the season for the Timbers U-23s (9-0-0, 27pts); he made way for backup Steve Spangler in the late stages of the match. The Timbers U-23s maintain their spot at the top of the Premier Development League's Northwest Division with the win.
The Timbers U-23s played more than half of the match with a man advantage, as the Whitecaps Residency (0-4-2, 2pts) had a player sent off in the 43rd and 76th minutes of the contest.
The Timbers U-23s took a 1-0 lead into halftime, on a strike from Braun in the ninth minute. A scramble for a loose ball around the box allowed the ball to roll out to Braun. He smashed a shot on target from 18 yards out to give the Timbers U-23s the advantage.
Braun nearly found his second goal of the day in the second half, putting a hard shot off the post. Hasson was able to collect the deflection and sent the ball right back into the mix. Richards was in position to knock the ball into the goal in the 48th minute to lift the Timbers U-23s to a 2-0 lead.
Farfan scored the final goal of the match for the Timbers U-23s in the 65th minute. Hasson played the ball to Farfan near the area. Off his left foot, Farfan buried his shot into the back of the net, scoring in back-to-back games, to help the Timbers U-23s start the second half of the season with a victory.
The Timbers U-23s visit the Tacoma Tide on Wednesday as they continue their season-long, three-game road stretch. Kickoff against the Tide is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Notes:
The Timbers U-23s improve to 3-0-0 all-time against the Whitecaps Residency … The Timbers U-23s have scored three or more goals in seven of their nine regular-season matches in 2010.
