Top Stories

In Reserve: Portland stuns Vancouver late, Red Bulls win and more

Lowry (Getty Images)

The Portland Timbers struck twice in stoppage time for a dramatic, come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of an announced crowd of more than 10,000 at JELD-WEN Field in Sunday's MLS Reserve League match.

Peter Lowry scored the game-winning goal in the waning seconds, finishing off a header from Steve Purdy to snatch the victory. The goal came three minutes after Brian Umony's equalizer and was Lowry's second of the game, as he scored from the penalty spot in the first half to open the scoring.

Omar Salgado had provided what seemed to be the game-winner for the Whitecaps (1-4-2) with his 75th-minute goal, which followed DP attacker Mustapha Jarju's first goal since joining the club.

Portland (4-2-1) had 31-year-old Iceland international centerback and trialist Stefan Gislason, formerly of Norway's Lillestrom SK, start and play the first 66 minutes of the match.

Here are a few more results from around the MLS Reserve League:

RED BULLS TOP NEW ENGLAND

The New York Red Bulls reserves did something the club's senior team hasn't been able to do in weeks — win a game.

The Red Bulls got goals from rookie Corey Hertzog and Carlos Mendes to top the New England Revolution, 2-0, on Sunday. Mendes opened the scoring for New York (2-4-0) in the 32nd minute by heading home a John Rooney free kick. Hertzog doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half by taking advantage of a fortuitous deflection in the box and finding the space to finish.

New England fell to 3-3-1 with the loss and trails first-place D.C. United by six points in the East Division.

ANOR BOOSTS COLUMBUS

Bernardo Anor continued his Reserve League success by tallying his fourth goal in Columbus' 1-0 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. With the goal, Anor pulled even with Chicago's Cristian Nazarit and Orr Barouch in the race for the Reserve League's Golden Boot.

Anor struck in the 70th minute for the Crew (4-1-0), finishing off a cross from academy player Khai Celestin.

Philadelphia (1-5-1) nearly pulled level during stoppage time, but Amobi Okugo's last-ditch effort was denied.

GAREY'S STRIKE LIFTS HOUSTON

The Houston Dynamo made it a clean sweep of Real Salt Lake over the weekend, winning the two clubs' reserve match, 1-0, on the strength of a second-half goal by Jason Garey.

Garey's goal came at the end of a combination between Kofi Sarkodie and Adam Moffat, with the latter crossing the ball for Garey to finish into a vacated net.

Houston (4-2-0) is a point off the pace set by the Chicago Fire in the Central Division. RSL (3-3-2) had its trio of young strikers — Paulo Jr., Cody Arnoux and Chris Agorsor — all see the field in the loss, and new signing Blake Wagner played 90 minutes at left back.

———————–

What do you think about the latest batch of Reserve League games?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Salgado has gotten 3 goals and an assist in about 430 minutes of reserve play. Not bad.

    I think it’s kind of strange Vancouver don’t play him more. He’s not overwhelmed in league play. It’s not as if they’ll reach the playoffs. Might as well get the young guys (him and Teibert) some playing time and build for the future.

    Reply
  2. I know the local libraries had a programs where if a child did a certain amount of reading over the summer, they could earn free tickets to this game. The Timbers also had a big event for the kids club “Little Timbers FC” where the kids got to meet the parents.

    Regardless, there is no doubt the passion for this team runs really deep. Deals or not, to have 10,000+ come out on the hottest day of the year in Portland truley makes PDX Soccer City USA.

    Reply
  3. Group-on or not, people showed up. Which speaks volumes of their support.

    There’s no shame in the marketing department kicking some a** and getting butts in seats.

    10k+ attendance for a Reserve match shows me everyone is doing their part…including fans.

    Reply
  4. That’s slightly off. I know MP tweeted that Groupon accounted for less than 2000, but the Groupon deal had 1700 takers…which actually translates to 3400 tickets.

    Regardless, even without Groupon, 6600 for a reserve match would have probably been an MLS record.

    Reply
  5. +1. That is nuts. Was there some sort of marketing push to achieve this?

    Everyone at the door gets to hug a sweaty Timber Joey?

    really though, well done!

    Reply
  6. how does increasing the roster size solve the problem? that only makes it worse.

    the problem that some players don’t get to play is inherent in ALL team sports. if you want to play, train harder. if you’re a good player and have potential, you’re going to get your shot in the MLS where managers have to be able to use every inch of their small roster.

    Reply
  7. thats what i said, i understand they want to get them minutes, but then i said the other problem is now you have all these reserves players who one day would like to be 1st team but they don’t get to play because the 1st team subs are playing the whole game.

    Reply
  8. the 1st team players have to play in the reserve team matches because their managers want them to get full games in rather than just 15-20 mins cameos. how does it help 1st team guys that don’t start develop if they aren’t getting somewhere close to 90 mins of action in every week?

    Reply
  9. When does someone think that we will have big enough rosters so that some people who play in the regular games won’t have to play in the reserve games? I understand its good to get players time, but the more 1st team players you play the less the reserves are actually progressing.

    Reply

Leave a Comment