The Portland Timbers reserves aquitted themselves well in front of several thousand fans tonight at the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila, WA, beating the Seattle Sounders reserve team 2-0. The Timbers reserve side spent much the first sixty minutes of the game putting Seattle under constant pressure.
The Timbers attack paid off quickely with a long Brett Richards throw into the Seattle box being knocked in for an own goal by Jhon Kennedy Hurtado in just the 4th minute. Richards' throw in continued to provide a potent offensive weapon for the rest of the half, giving the Seattle defenders several scares including one that reportedly went all the way over the box and out of bounds for a goal kick.
More on the Timbers reserves' victory plus the official Timbers press release after the jump.
The Timbers continued to keep the pressure on and were rewarded with another goal in the 23rd minute from Bright Dike. Dike, who was a thorn in the side of the Seattle defense all night, successfully received a pass from Andrew Jean-Baptiste (I heard AJB but the Timbers' write up sites Purdy as getting the assist), beat his man one on one, and fired a hard shot past an onrushing Andrew Weber, Seattle's reserve keeper who was injured on the play.
The Timbers would come close to scoring several more times with Brent Richards and Bright Dike both putting headers just wide later in the game.
However, as the game wore on the Timbers defense withdrew, allowing the Sounders to press the attack. For the final thirty minutes of the game, the Timbers defense was under bombardment and MLS pool keeper Brian Rowe was called on several times to make the save. Seattle's best chance came in the final ten minutes of the game as Samuel Ochoa's shot was cleared off the line by Ryan Kawulok. Kawulok and Jean-Baptiste partnered in the center of the defense and had their names called over and over again on the radio broadcast as they broke up a number of Seattle plays.
Perhaps the only things mentioned more than Kawulok and Jean-Baptiste's defensive feats were the trains that continued to roll past the stadium and were a constant source of amusement to the game's announcers, Ross Fletcher and Tyler Graham. Fletcher, the Sounders usual television announcer, was easily diverted form the game at several points and at points talked at length about a brand of glasses in England, his preferred cleats for people to wear (black, well worn, cost $30), and Spiderman. Although certainly more used to television work, the pair did keep things lively during their broadcast.
Game Notes:
- Anthony Macchione, who was brought on by the Timbers for the final four minutes plus stoppage time is on 17 and plays with the Timbers Academy. Macchione's father was also a Timbers forward, who played with the team in 1988.
- Two Sounders players got Dike'd during the game. Andrew Weber was injured while trying to stop Dike's goal and Andrew Duran picked up a knock while sliding in to block a shot from Dike.
- Seattle forward Sammy Ochoa, known for his physicality, was the latest recipiant of an AJB bodyslam, as first demonstraited on San Jose's Steven Lenhart during the preseason.
- Brett Evans, the South African trialist who played with the Timbers reserves, made several key stops early on in the game but was not as offensive minded as the Timbers' current group of fullbacks, rarely getting forward in the attack.
The Timbers press release:
TIMBERS TOP SOUNDERS FC 2-0 IN MLS RESERVE LEAGUE
Forward Bright Dike scores to help Timbers Reserves to first win of 2012
TUKWILA, Wash. — Forward Bright Dike scored in the first half and goalkeeper Brian Rowe recorded four saves to earn the clean sheet as the Portland Timbers Reserves defeated the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves 2-0 in MLS Reserve League play at Starfire Sports Complex on Tuesday night.
After two clutch stops by Rowe in the final 20 minutes of the match, Timbers defender Ryan Kawulok turned in a key stop in the 85th minute, clearing off the line bouncing shot by Seattle forward Sammy Ochoa that got by Rowe.
An early own goal by Seattle and Dike’s first goal of the season allowed the Timbers Reserves (1-1-0, 3pts) to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Rowe made three of his four saves in the second half and Portland’s defense held firm through nine corner kicks and nine shots by Sounders FC (0-2-1, 1pt) to claim their first shutout and win of the MLS Reserve League Season.
The Timbers Reserves received an own goal in the fourth minute to take an early 1-0 lead. A long throw in from the left side by forward Brent Richards found its way into the box. Sounders FC defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was able to get to the ball, but knocked it back towards his own net and in for the own goal.
Dike doubled the Timbers Reserves’ lead in the 23rd minute, finding the back of the net on a hard-working play inside the box. A long ball played forward by defender Steve Purdy was collected by Dike near the penalty area. Dike out-worked a Seattle defender inside the box and slotted a shot past the Seattle goalkeeper Bryan Meredith and inside the bottom far corner of the goal.
Portland’s defense held Seattle to just three shots, including just one on goal in the first half. Rowe came up with one save in the first half, turning away a free kick put on frame by Seattle midfielder Servando Carrasco on a free kick. But the Sounders FC Reserves found some rhythm in the second half and was able to generate nine of their 12 shots on the night in the frame.
The Timbers Reserves out-shot the Sounders FC Reserves 8-3 in the first half, and had two close chances in the second half on a header by Richards and a low driven shot by second-half sub Cam Vickers; both missed just wide of the target. Portland and Seattle each finished the night with 12 shots.
The Timbers Reserves play their third straight road match to open the MLS Reserve League season on Sunday, April 22, when they travel to take on the Vancouver Whtiecaps FC Reserves at Swangard Stadium; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific)
Portland Timbers Reserves (1-1-0, 3pts) at Seattle Sounders FC Reserves (0-2-1, 1pts)
MLS Reserve League
April 10, 2012– Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
Scoring Summary
POR: Own goal (Hurtado), 4
POR: Dike (Purdy), 23
Misconduct Summary
SEA: Ochoa (Caution), 88
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Brian Rowe, D Steve Purdy , D Ryan Kawulok, D Andrew Jean-Baptiste, D ^Brett Evans, M Sal Zizzo (Cam Vickers, 46), M Freddie Braun, M Chris Taylor, M Charles Renken, F Brent Richards, F Bright Dike (*Anthony Macchione, 86)
Substitutes Not Used: ^Chris Andre
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDE: 4; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 4.
SEA: GK Andrew Weber (Bryan Meredith, 24), D Andrew Duran (Cordell Cato, 60), D Jhon Kennedy Hurtado , D Daniel Steres, D Marc Burch, M Alex Caskey, M Servando Carrasco, M Andy Rose, M Christian Sivebaek (*Jordan Schweitzer, 83), F Eddie Johnson (Michael Seamon, 46), F Sammy Ochoa
Substitutes Not Used: *Michael Gallagher, *Austin Sweeney, *Ike Crooke
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 3.
^ indicates guest player/trialist
* indicates academy player
Referee: William Niccolls
Referee's Assistants: Timon Berry; Chipalo Street
4th Official: Josh Wilkens
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-64-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial