VANCOUVER, Wash. – Forward Ricky Abrego recorded a goal and an assist as the Portland Timbers U-23s topped the Tacoma Tide 4-0 at Kiggins Bowl on Saturday. Behind four goals by four different Portland players, the Timbers U-23s were able to defeat the Tide for the third time this season in front of 790 fans.
Midfielder Steven Evans got the offense going for the Timbers U-23s by converting a penalty kick in the eighth minute after defender Dylan Tucker suffered a foul in the box by Tacoma Defender Ivan Popov.
The Timbers U-23s added another first-half goal 15 minutes later when Tucker finished a cross from Brent Richards, teammates at the University of Washington, to put Portland up 2-0 heading into halftime.
The Timbers U-23s tacked on two more goals in the final ten minutes on goals from Erik Hurtado in the 83rd minute and Ricky Abrego in the 90th minute; both came on as subs in the second half.
Tacoma’s best opportunity to cut into the Timbers U-23s lead came in the 60th minute, when Portland was called for a foul inside the box to award a penalty kick to Tacoma. However, Tacoma midfielder Daniel Gray couldn’t beat Jason Dodson as the Portland goalkeeper stopped Gray’s attempt, preserving his third clean sheet of the season.
Dodson had four saves on the day to hold Tacoma scoreless for the second time this year. The 4-0 victory for the Timbers U-23s didn’t come without a cost, as defender Reed Matte was sent off in the 86th minute after receiving his second yellow card.
Portland came close to adding to their lead several times early in the second half. Tucker nearly completed a brace on two separate headers that both sailed just inches above the crossbar.
The Timbers U-23s continue their four-match homestand as they play host to the Washington Crossfire on Saturday, June 25, at Sherwood High School in Sherwood, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
POR: Evans (penalty kick) 8
POR: Tucker (Richards) 21
POR: Hurtado (Abrego) 83
POR: Abrego 90
Lineups:
POR: Dodson, Tucker, Kawoluk, Matte, Gonzalez, Farfan (Abrego, 81), Esteves (Palodichuk, 45), Evans (Dorrego, 85), Morris (Hasson, 60), Richards (Anderson, 88), Byass (Hurtado, 54)
TAC: Richey, Popov, Henry, Uyehara, Pirotte (Thomas, 80), Wenzel, Gray, Dipasquale, Vickers, Beasley (Kelley, 89), Brown
