PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers U-23s will face off against first-year PDL club Lane United FC for the first time this season on Tuesday, July 2 at Willamette University in Salem, Ore.; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Portland (4-4-3, 15pts) enters Tuesday’s match following a 2-1 home win over Kitsap Pumas on Saturday. Despite conceding the first goal and playing with 10 men for most of the match, the Timbers U-23s battled back to draw level just before halftime on a goal by midfielder Reed McKenna. Forward Kharlton Belmar scored the game-winning goal for Portland in the 77th minute.
The Timbers U-23s come into the match riding a three-game winning streak. Belmar has scored six goals in the last four matches, including back-to-back braces against Sounders FC U23 on June 15 and Victoria Highlanders FC on June 21. Defender Hugo Rhoads registered assists in consecutive matches on June 21 and 28, while tallying his third assist of the season in Saturday’s win.
The Reds (2-6-1, 7pts) are coming off a 1-0 loss to Puget Sound Gunners FC in their last match on June 27 in Issaquah, Wash. Lane United FC is winless in its last six matches and has not scored a goal since June 18. Forwards Khiry Shelton and Conner Bevans lead the team with three goals each this season.
In four road matches in 2014, Lane United FC is 0-4-0 and has been outscored by its opponents, 9-1. The Timbers U-23s are 3-1-1 at home in PDL matches this season. Portland has outscored its opponents in those matches, 9-5.
The Timbers U-23s play their final regular-season road match of the season on Friday, July 11 against Lane United FC at the Willamalane Center in Springfield, Ore. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
