REDMOND, Wash. – Despite an early goal by midfielder Andrew Ribeiro, the Portland Timbers U-23s were handed a second straight defeat in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Crossfire at Redmond High School on Wednesday night.
The Timbers U-23s claimed a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes of the match as midfielder Roberto Farfan set up Ribeiro for the go-ahead strike off a corner kick. The two sides entered halftime even at 1-1, after Crossfire midfielder Nik Besagno converted a penalty kick past Portland goalkeeper Justin Baarts. In a physical match, Washington scored the decisive goal off a corner kick in the second half to earn the 2-1 victory.
After opening the 2012 Premier Development League season with five consecutive wins, the Timbers U-23s (5-2-0, 15pts) have lost their last two matches. Ribeiro’s goal was his second of the season.
Crossfire (4-1-1, 13pts) recorded its fourth victory in five games with win over the Timbers U-23s.
The Timbers U-23s close out a stretch of three straight road matches Saturday, when they visit rival the Kitsap Pumas at Bremerton Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. (Pacific). A live stream of the match will be available online at http://prepzone.kitsapsun.com/pumas/.
Notes: Even with the loss, the Timbers U-23s remain in a two-way tie with Kitsap for first place in the PDL’s Northwest Division … The Timbers U-23s have lost back-to-back matches for just the second time in team history … The two goals allowed against Crossfire were the most given up by the Timbers U-23s in a match this season. Portland had allowed just four goals in six matches entering Wednesday’s contest … Making his first start of the season, goalkeeper Justin Baarts recorded eight saves against Crossfire ... Wednesday’s match was the first of three regular-season meetings between Portland and Washington in 2012 … The Timbers U-23s and Crossfire have split the all-time series at 3-3-1 … Timbers U-23s midfielder Eric Miller is currently in camp with the U.S. U-20 National Team, who faced the Uruguay U-20 National Team in a friendly Wednesday in South America.
Scoring Summary:
POR: Andrew Ribeiro, 3
WAS: Nik Besagno (penalty kick), 40
WAS: Adam Mena Bonifacio (Daniel Gray), 65
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Chris Harms (Caution), 39
WAS: Conner Moe (Caution), 42
WAS: Daniel Gray (Caution), 67
WAS: Nik Besagno (Caution), 75
WAS: Andy Thoma (Caution), 78
WAS: Zack Wolfenzon (Caution), 86
Lineups:
POR: GK Justin Baarts, D Chris Harms (Emery Welshman, 82), D Evyn Hewett, D Anthony Hobbs (Nick Hamer, 80), D Marc Tonkel, M Steven Evans, M Roberto Farfan (John McFarlin, 70), M Andrew Ribeiro, M Cam Vickers (Reed Matte, 70), F Erik Hurtado (Will Seymore, 78), F Mark Sherrod (Clark Phillips, 68)
Subs not used: GK Keegan Rogers
WAS: GK Jake Feener (Andrew Holte, 45), D Matt Fischer (Alex Klein, 87), D Brayton Knapp, D Conner Moe, D Andy Thoma, M Nik Besagno (Josh Phillips, 75), M Adam Mena Bonifacio, M Daniel Gray (Kellen Wantulok, 78), M Nick James, F Zack Hammond (Zack Wolfenzon, 45), F Nathan Sackeyfio
Subs not used: D Jordan Burt
