Portland Timbers Development Update: Nov. 12, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Academy teams traveled to Coquitlam, B.C., over the weekend to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency teams at Percy Perry Stadium. Both the Timbers U-18 and U-16 Academy teams fell to their Northwest rivals in their respective U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches.

The Timbers U-18 Academy (3-4-2, 11pts) struck first, but would fall 3-2 to the Whitecaps FC U-18s. Portland took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute against a Whitecaps FC U-18 squad featuring five members of Canada’s 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup roster. Forward Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) intercepted a free kick by Whitecaps FC Residency in its own area and slotted home his team-leading fifth goal of the season into an open net. Vancouver was able to equalize in the 38th minute on a penalty kick to level the score, 1-1, at halftime and then tallied goals two minutes apart in the 73rd and 75th minutes to take a 3-1 lead. The Timbers U-18s pulled one back in the 83rd minute on a goal by Sam Werner (Beaverton, Ore.) – his second of the season.

The loss Saturday was just the second for the Timbers U-18s in their last five games.

The Timbers U-16 Academy (2-5-2, 8pts) looked strong against the Whitecaps FC U-16s, but were handed a 2-0 loss on Saturday. Dario Zanatta scored in each half, in the 17th and 80th minutes, to provide the scoring for Whitecaps FC Residency. The matches against Vancouver were the third in a stretch of three straight away games for the Timbers Academy teams.

The Timbers Academy returns home Saturday, Nov. 16, to play host to Seattle Sounders FC Academy at the adidas Timbers Training Center in their first home matches since Oct. 6. The U-18 sides kickoff at 12 noon (Pacific), followed by the U-16s at 2:30 p.m.