PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers battled AC Milan Primavera to a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation Tuesday night in front of 11,092 at PGE Park. After playing a man down most of the second half, the Timbers scored four straight from the penalty spot to defeat AC Milan’s U-21 squad 4-1 on PKs.
The 11,092 fans on hand for the international exhibition match is the fourth highest crowd in modern Timbers franchise history.
Taylor put the Timbers on the board in the first half as the Timbers enjoyed a 1-0 lead at halftime. AC Milan Primavera forward
Enrico Traviani
netted the equalizer in the 66th minute shortly after Timbers midfielder Andrew Gregor was ejected from the match forcing the Timbers to play a man down.
AC Milan Primavera strikers
Kingsley Umbunegbu
and Traviani created several dangerous chances throughout the match forcing Timbers goalkeeper Bayard Elfvin to record four saves as AC Milan Primavera outshot the Timbers 17-4.
Kingsley is one of two youth international players for AC Milan Primavera and a member Nigeria’s U-19 National Team. The other is defender
Matteo Darmian
, who is a member of Italy’s U-19 National Team.
The Timbers took the lead in the 24th minute on a goal by Taylor from 10 yards out. The play developed as midfielder Troy Ready worked the ball into the top left corner of the box. After receiving the ball, Taylor worked a quick give-and-go with Ambriz and was able to break through AC Milan Primavera’s backline and skipped a low shot at the far post past goalkeeper Daniel Offredi.
Traviani notched the equalizer in the 66th minute as AC Milan Primavera played the final 34 minutes with a one-man advantage. After some crafty footwork around the box, Traviani slipped by the Timbers defense forcing a one-on-one with Elfvin and snuck the ball inside the near post.
Scoring penalty kicks for the Timbers were defenders Lee Morrison and Leonard Griffin, forward Luc Harrington and midfielder Kiki Lara.
The Timbers face the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division on Thursday at PGE Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Notes: With the win over AC Milan Primavera, the Timbers remain undefeated at home in 2007.
Starting Line ups:
POR – GK Elfvin, D Marcum, D Knowles, D Morrison, D Higgins, M Olum, M Dombrowski, M Taylor, M Ready, F Hague, F Ambriz
ACM – GK Offredi, D Ruggeri, D Darmian, D Bruscagin, D Candi, M Vitofrancesco, M Guerci, M Rampinini, M Da Ros, F Umunegbu, F Traviani
Scoring Summary:
POR: Taylor (Ambriz), 24
ACM: Traviani, 66
