Soccer News: Portland Scores Early, Registers Clean Sheet to Extend Unbeaten Streak to Five Consecutive Games
Forward Geoffrey Dee tallied a goal in the 28th minute and the Portland Timbers U-23‘s contained the Seattle Sounders U-23 attack to earn a 1-0 shutout win on Sunday afternoon at McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver, Washington. Playing in their final regular-season home game of the 2015 season, Portland (5-1-2, 17pts) extended its unbeaten streak to five straight games (3-0-2). The win marked the Timbers U-23s fourth consecutive shutout and fifth clean sheet of the 2015 PDL season. Sunday’s matchup marked the first of two regular-season meetings between Portland and Seattle this season with the Timbers U-23s traveling to Seattle on June 26.
Pressuring Seattle (4-2-1, 13pts) from the start, the Timbers U-23s tallied what would stand as the game-winning goal in the 28th minute as Dee put a clean first touch on the ball to take him away from a defender, firing a well-struck shot into the top left corner of the net past Sounders U-23 goalkeeper Paul Christensen. Dee finished with a team-high four shots, including three on goal. Portland continued to keep Christensen busy, forcing the goalkeeper to make six saves in the match.
Entering the second half, Seattle saw several opportunities thwarted by Timbers U-23s goalkeeper Collin Partee, including a chance in the 72nd minute that saw Partee record back-to-back saves. After blocking a shot from Sounders U-23 midfielder Troy Peterson, Partee raced across the goal to punch out a near opportunity from midfielder Mark Lee to keep Portland ahead. Portland and Seattle each registered seven shots on goal, while Partee registered seven saves in the shutout.
Following Sunday’s match, the two sides meet again as the Timbers U-23s hit the road to face Sounders U-23 at Tumwater High School in Tumwater, Washington, on Friday, June 26; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
