TUMWATER, Wash. — The Portland Timbers U-23s scored three goals in the second half off set pieces while forward Kharlton Belmar tallied a brace in a 3-0 win over Sounders FC U23 in front of 1,012 fans at Tumwater High School in Tumwater, Wash., on Sunday afternoon.
Portland (2-4-3, 9pts) finished its four-game road swing claiming points in consecutive matches after also earning a 2-2 draw on Thursday against Washington Crossfire.
The Timbers U-23s tallied the opening goal in the 58th minute as Belmar knocked in a loose ball following a scramble in the box off a corner kick. Portland doubled its lead in the 71st minute as defender Will Seymore tallied his first goal of the season with a header off a corner kick by forward Matt Rose.
Belmar recorded the brace, giving the Timbers U-23s a 3-0 lead in the 85th minute as he directed Seymore’s header in off a corner kick for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Portland created multiple scoring chances and finished the game with an 18-7 advantage in shots. The Timbers U-23s forced Sounders FC U23 goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell to make seven saves in the match.
Seattle (3-3-1, 10pts) mustered an offensive threat within the first five minutes of the second half, but the chance was quickly smothered by the Portland defense.
The Timbers U-23s return to Portland for a three-game home stand playing host to Victoria Highlanders FC on Saturday, June 21, at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie, Ore.; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Notes: Belmar became the second Timbers U-23s player to score in consecutive games this and has scored three goals in Portland’s last two matches … Rose tallied his team-leading third assist of the season in the match … The Timbers U-23s improved their record against Seattle to 10-2-1 all-time.
