UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash.
– Midfielder Bim Ogunyemi and forward Ricky Abrego scored back-to-back goals to help the Portland Timbers U-23s pull out a 2-1 win over the Tacoma Tide at Curtis High School on Wednesday night, and extend the team’s winning streak to 10 games.
The Timbers U-23s (10-0-0, 30pts) trailed for the first time all season until Ogunyemi found the equalizer just before halftime. Abrego, who entered the match as a sub in the second half, tallied the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to lock up Portland’s team-record, 10th consecutive victory.
Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and the Timbers U-23s’ backline held the Tide (7-3-2, 23pts) to just two shots in the match. Midfielder David Gray scored for Tacoma on a penalty kick in the 35th minute; it was just the third goal allowed by Gleeson in the regular season.
The Timbers U-23s maintain their first-place position in the Northwest Division, with a five point lead over the second-place Kitsap Pumas.
A foul called on Timbers U-23s defender Graham Dugoni in the box set up Gray’s penalty-kick attempt midway through the first half. Graham was booked with a caution for the foul, and Gray converted his attempt from the mark to give the home side the lead.
Ogunyemi leveled the score line at 1-1 in the 44th minute. With a hard-working effort down the left side, he drove a low shot inside the far post for his second goal of the season, and second against the Tide this season.
Portland kept its winning streak alive, finding the game-winner on a strike from Abrego. Off a corner kick, defender Ryan Kawulok headed a pass back across the goal to Abrego, who was able to put away his fourth goal of the season to secure the 2-1 victory.
After three consecutive road games, the Timbers U-23s return home to play host to the Spokane Spiders on Friday at Tigard High School in Tigard, Ore., at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.
Notes:
The goal allowed by the Timbers U-23s was just the second road goal conceded in five away games … Portland is the lone undefeated club in the Premier Development League (PDL) … The Timbers U-23s’ three goals allowed is the fewest conceded in the PDL.
Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Drake, D Dugoni, D Kawulok, D Granger, M Hasson, M Farfan, M Ogunyemi, M Braun, F Richards, F Ramsey
TAC: GK Ritchie, D Knapp, D Pirotte, D Morton, D Conrad, M Agu, M Gray, M Tangney, M Orozco, F Sanders, F Schomaker
Scoring Summary:
TAC: Gray (penalty kick), 35
POR: Ogunyemi, 44
POR: Abrego, 88
