PORTLAND, Ore. – First-half goals from midfielder Sal Zizzo and defender Ryan Kawulok helped lead the Portland Timbers Reserves to a 3-2 victory in a scrimmage against the University of Portland Pilots on Wednesday evening at Merlo Field on the University of Portland campus.
The scrimmage helped raise more than $1,000 for the Providence Heart and Vascular Institute’s Play Smart Young Heart Screening program through fan donations at the door.
The Timbers Reserves received goals from Kawulok and Zizzo in the opening 30 minutes of the match, but entered halftime locked at 2-2 as the Pilots were able to find the back of the net twice against the run of play. After assisting on the tying goal for the Timbers Reserves, forward Jose Valencia provided the decisive goal in the 58th minute. The Timbers Reserves controlled the run of play against the Pilots, and attempted 18 shots and 14 corner kicks.
Kawulok, who played his collegiate career with the Pilots from 2008-11, struck in the ninth minute to open the scoring. Pilots goalkeeper Justin Baarts made a diving save on a headed shot off one of the Timbers Reserves’ 11 corner kicks in the first half, and Kawulok was the first to the loose ball just wide of the right post and fired it into the roof of the goal.
Seeing his first game action since recovering from a recent knee injury, Zizzo pulled the Timbers Reserves even at 2-2 in the 29th minute. After initiating the play with a drive into the box, Zizzo was on the receiving end of a pass from Valencia at the left post and knocked in a shot from close range.
After going down a goal, the Pilots answered with back-to-back goals, with the first coming in the 12th minute off a shot from distance by midfielder Michael Escobar into the top left corner of the goal. On a counter in the 21st minute, midfielder Jaime Velasco took a shot from near the top of the box that Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson was able to get a hand to. Velasco’s shot had just enough behind it to trickle over the goal line. The Pilots’ two goals were scored on their only shots of the first half.
The Timbers Reserves regained the lead 13 minutes into the second half. Forward Sebastián Rincón played a pass into the box for Valencia from the left side. After a settling touch, Valencia calmly finished by Baarts into the left side of the goal.
Baarts, who played for the Portland Timbers U-23s in 2012, finished the game with 10 saves.
The Timbers Reserves visit the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves in their next MLS Reserve League match on Sunday May 19, at UBC Thunderbird Stadium; kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. (Pacific).
Portland Timbers Reserves vs. University of Portland - exhibition
April 24, 2013 – Merlo Field (Portland, Ore.)
Scoring Summary
POR: Kawulok (Jean-Baptiste), 9
UP: Escobar (Rhodes), 12
UP: Velasco (Corbett), 21
POR: Zizzo (Valencia), 29
POR: Valencia (Rincón), 58
Misconduct Summary
n/a
Lineups
POR: GK Jake Gleeson, D Ryan Miller (Marc Tonkel^, 71), D Andrew Jean-Baptiste (James Nosack, 84), D Dylan Tucker-Gangnes, D Ryan Kawulok, M Steven Evans, M Mobi Fehr, M Anthony Macchione, F Sal Zizzo (Lucas Cawley, 45), F Jose Valencia (Christian Desir, 90), F Sebastián Rincón
UP: GK Justin Baarts, D Hugo Rhoads (Connor Wear, 68), D Alex Gatewood (Joe Sleven, 60)(Trah, 84), D Tyler Baarts, D Matt Liberator, M Michael Escobar, M Colby Trah (Rhodes, 74), M Derek Boggs, M Jaime Velasco, F Thomas Iwasaki (Colin Anderson, 38)(Iwasaki, 45), F Steven Corbett
* indicates academy player
^ indicates guest player
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
