Portland Timbers Reserves top San Jose Earthquakes Reserves 1-0

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Forward Jose Valencia scored the match’s lone goal in the 56th minute to help the Portland Timbers Reserves defeat the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves 1-0 on the road in MLS Reserve League play on Sunday morning at the Earthquakes Training Facility. 

Valencia scored his fourth MLS Reserve League goal just 11 minutes into the second half, assisted on by Kalif Alhassan and Sal Zizzo, to help the Timbers Reserves (4-2-2, 14pts) snap the Earthquakes Reserves’ (3-4-0, 9pts) three-match winning streak. 

The Timbers Reserves move into a two-way tie for second place in the MLS Reserve League’s West Division with Chivas USA. The Timbers Reserves captured wins in both matches against the Earthquakes Reserves during the 2013 MLS Reserve League campaign.

Portland’s goal came off a free kick from about 20 yards out. Zizzo fed a pass to Alhassan towards the end line, and Alhassan cut the ball back before playing a low cross into the six-yard box. Valencia finished from close range, beating Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham. 

Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson played all 90 minutes in goal to pick up his third victory of the MLS Reserve League season and record the Timbers Reserves’ second clean sheet. 

The Timbers Reserves play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves in their next match Sunday, Aug. 4, at JELD-WEN Field at 2 p.m. (Pacific). The Timbers Reserves match is the first of a doubleheader at JELD-WEN Field as Portland Thorns FC play host to FC Kansas City in a nationally televised match at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets, which allow entry into both matches, can be purchased online at www.portlandtimbers.com or at the stadium box office. 

MLS Reserve League
Portland Timbers Reserves (4-2-2, 14pts) at San Jose Earthquakes Reserves (3-4-0, 9pts)
July 28, 2013 – Earthquakes Training Facility (San Jose, Calif.)

Scoring Summary
POR: Valencia (Alhassan, Zizzo), 56

Misconduct Summary
SJ: Ramiro Corrales (Caution), 81

Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Jake Gleeson, D Sal Zizzo, D Alvas Powell, D Rauwshan McKenzie, D Ryan Miller, M Steven Evans, M Kalif Alhassan, M Jacob Kempf^, F Sebastián Rincón, F Jose Valencia (Jesse Garcia^, 65), F Olivier Thomert# (James Nosack^, 45)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Milos Kocic

TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6

SJ: GK David Bingham, D Cruz Hernandez#, D Ramiro Corrales, D Josh Morton^, D Sam Garza, M Roberto Mendoza^, M Amir Bashti^, M Cordell Cato, M Mehdi Ballouchy, F Tommy Thompson^, F Marcus Tracy (Elisima Padilla^, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Evan Newton

TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; SAVES: 6; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 2;

# indicates guest player; ^ indicates academy player