Timbers U-23s advance to PDL Western Conference semifinals

GLADSTONE, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s defeated the Kitsap Pumas 2-1 in a divisional playoff match at Gladstone High School on Sunday evening, booking a trip to the Premier Development League’s Western Conference semifinals.

Portland forward Mark Sherrod scored the quickest goal of the Timbers U-23s’ season in just the second minute and setup midfielder Roberto Farfan for the game-winning strike midway through the second half. Portland goalkeeper Spencer Richey also turned in a solid performance on what was a busy night for him despite making just one save.

The Timbers U-23s wasted no time taking a 1-0 lead by the second minute. Sherrod nodded home defender Anthony Hobbs’ long throw-in from deep in Kitsap territory to stake the Timbers U-23s to an early advantage.

Kitsap answered five minutes later through defender Zack Sampson. A shot from distance deflected to Sampson, who redirected it past Richey in the seventh minute, knotting the score at 1-1.

The match remained tied until Farfan, a 61^st-minute substitute for midfielder Cam Vickers, drove home the game-winning strike in the 69^th minute. Sherrod settled the ball for Farfan, whose left-footed half volley from just outside the right corner of the penalty area found the far side netting past Kitsap goalkeeper Zac Lubin, giving the Timbers U-23s a 2-1 win over the defending-PDL champion Pumas.

The Timbers U-23s will travel to Ventura, Calif., for the Western Conference semifinals. The Timbers U-23s and Seattle Sounders FC U-23 will represent the Northwest Division against the top two teams from the PDL’s Southwest Division for the Western Conference championship.

Notes: With the win the Timbers U-23s improve to 2-0 all-time in playoff matches against Kitsap … Sherrod’s goal was his 11^th of the season; he is the third Timbers U-23s player in team history to record 10 or more goals in a season, joining Brent Richards (2010) and Ryan Youngblood (2009) in accomplishing the feat … Hobbs recorded his first assist for the Timbers U-23s on Sherrod’s goal.