PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers Reserves finished their 2012 MLS Reserve League season on a winning note Sunday afternoon, defeating the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves 3-2 in front of 8,968 at JELD-WEN Field.
The Timbers Reserves (4-5-1, 13pts) scored all three goals within the first 15 minutes of play. Forward Kris Boyd scored a goal and added an assist, while forwards Mike Fucito and Brent Richards each scored a goal in Portland’s win. Sounders FC Reserves (3-5-1, 10pts) received goals from Sounders FC Academy players Jordan Morris and Isidro Prado-Huerta.
Making his season debut, Timbers forward Jose Valencia came on in the 70th minute and forced Sounders FC goalkeeper Josh Ford into one of his six saves on the day with a shot on the right post. It was Valencia’s first game action as a member of the Timbers after months of rehab following knee surgery on Feb 6.
Reserves Highlights: Timbers beat Sounders 3-2
With today’s attendance, the Timbers Reserves total attendance for the 2012 season was 41,001 over five home matches, averaging 8,200 per game. The Timbers Reserves’ largest crowd of the season was 14,121, setting a club record, on Aug. 26 against the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves.
Fucito got the Timbers Reserves on the board first less than five minutes in. Boyd played the ball high in the air toward the penalty spot. Seattle was not able to clear the ball, and Fucito ended up with a wide-open attempt from 12 yards out. Fucito hit a low-lined shot that was deflected at the goal line, but beat Ford to make the score 1-0.
Just four minutes later, Boyd scored to make the score 2-0. Portland midfielder Kalif Alhassan played a through ball to Boyd into the box, who immediately chipped the ball over Ford for the goal.
The third goal for the Timbers Reserves came from Richards in the 15th minute. Midfielder Eric Alexander started the sequence by playing defender Ian Hogg down the left side. Hogg crossed the ball in, and it was deflected at the penalty spot by Ford. The ball was set up perfectly for Richards, who hesitated a moment before rocketing a shot into the back of the net to make the score 3-0. It was Richards’ fourth goal of the MLS Reserve League season.
In the 32nd minute, Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson was subbed off due to an injury as a result of a collision with Seattle’s Sammy Ochoa. He was replaced by Timbers U-18 Academy goalkeeper Mitch North.
Seattle struck twice in the second half, starting with a goal in the 49th minute. Sounders FC midfielder Cordell Cato played a ball into the box from the right side and it found the head of Morris, who placed it just past North.
The Sounders FC Reserves got within a goal of Portland in the 78th minute with help of two other Sounders FC Academy players. Seattle forward Dominique Dismuke collected the ball deep inside the box and left it in front of the net for midfielder Prado-Huerta, who put it past North to make the score 3-2.
Seattle attempted to equalize in the final 12 minutes, but the Timbers Reserves held on to beat Sounders FC Reserves for the second time of the MLS Reserve League season.
Seattle Sounders FC Reserves (3-5-1, 10pts) at Portland Timbers Reserves (4-5-1, 13pts)
Sept. 16, 2012 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.
Scoring Summary
POR: Fucito (Boyd), 5
POR: Boyd (Alhassan), 9
POR: Richards, 15
SEA: Morris (Cato), 49
SEA: Prado-Huerta (Dismuke), 79
Misconduct Summary
None
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Gleeson (North, 32), D Hogg, D Danso, D Brunner, D Kawulok, M Alexander (Desir, 78), M Alhassan (Renken, 68), M Richards, F Rincón, F Boyd (Valencia, 70), F Fucito (Vickers^, 69)
Substitutes Not Used: M Bryan Gonzalez, D Abdiel Morfin
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3
SEA: GK Ford, D Seamon, D Scott (Burch, 45), D Steres, D Beck, M Cato (Dismuke, 66), M Carrasco (Caskey, 45), M McCormick, M Prado-Huerta, F Morris, F Ochoa (Estrada, 45)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Meredith
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 6
^ indicates guest player/trialist
indicates academy player
Referee: Greg Marshall
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Carlos Tercero
4th Official: Lucas Brooks
Attendance: 8,968
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
