PORTLAND, Ore. – The Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves scored twice in the first half and held off a late second-half rally by the Portland Timbers Reserves to win 2-1 in MLS Reserve League play in front of 5,218 fans at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday afternoon.
RESERVES HIGHLIGHTS: Vancouver 2, Portland 1
Vancouver (2-1-1, 7pts) received goals from midfielder Floyd Franks and forward Darren Mattocks in the first 45 minutes of play to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Portland (2-2-0, 6pts), playing its 2012 MLS Reserve League home opener, cut the lead in half midway through the second half on a goal by defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste. Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Brad Knighton made six saves, including two diving stops late in the second half to preserve the win for Vancouver.
Vancouver scored its first goal of the first half in the 18th minute. Defender Russell Teibert received the ball inside the box and crossed it in front of the goal near the penalty spot. Franks was there and headed it in past Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik, and the score gave the Whitecaps FC Reserves a 1-0 lead.
The second goal for Vancouver came on a one-on-one situation in the 28th minute. Mattocks received a pass near midfield from Michael Nanchoff and beat Jean-Baptiste. Mattocks streaked downfield and placed his left-footed shot past Bendik to extend the Whitecaps FC Reserves’ lead to 2-0.
The Timbers Reserves pulled one back in the 70th minute. Midfielder Franck Songo’o took a corner kick and the ball took one hop in the box and found the head of Jean-Baptiste. The shot beat Knighton and Portland cut the lead to 2-1.
Portland had two good chances to equalize in the final fifteen minutes. In the 79th minute, Songo’o found some space just outside the box and rocketed a shot on the near post. Knighton made a diving save to prevent the tying score. In the 85th minute, Portland midfielder Lovel Palmer sent a shot toward goal from 20 yards out, but Knighton once again came up with the save.
The Timbers Reserves will play host to the LA Galaxy Reserves at JELD-WEN Field on Saturday, June 2 in their next MLS Reserve League match; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). The Whitecaps FC Reserves next visit the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves on Friday, June 1.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves (2-1-1, 7pts) at Portland Timbers Reserves (2-2-0, 6pts)
May 27, 2012 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.
Scoring Summary
VAN: Franks (Teibert), 18
VAN: Mattocks (Nanchoff), 28
POR: Jean-Baptiste (Songo’o), 70
Misconduct Summary
VAN: Barbara (caution), 38
POR: Palmer (caution), 38
VAN: Harvey (caution), 45
POR: Fucito (caution), 52
VAN: Knighton (caution), 90
Lineups & Stats
VAN: GK Knighton; D Klazura, D Mitchell, D Harvey (Stanese, 71), D Teibert, M Franks, M Watson (Alderson, 68), M Barbara, M Nanchoff, F Mattocks (Tan, 60), F Salgado (Clarke, 81)
Substitutes Not Used: None
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 6
POR: GK Bendik; D Chabala, D Kawulok, D Jean-Baptiste, D Braun, M Songo’o, M Rincón, M Palmer, M Reiss^ (Taylor, 21), F Richards, F Fucito (Renken, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Reese^
TOTAL SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 5
^ indicates guest player/trialist
Referee: Ronald Lagraff
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Carlos Perez
4th Official: Greg Marshall
Attendance: 5,218
Weather: Cloudy, 60 degrees
