Timbers Capture Win Over Mexicos Atlas In Thrilling Shootout

July 12, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Portland Timbers News Release


Forward George Josten scored his first goal of the season as the Portland Timbers played Mexico's Club Deportivo Atlas to a 1-1 draw in an international exhibition match, before claiming the victory in a penalty-kick shootout before 7,113 at PGE Park on Sunday.

On a festive night at PGE Park, it was the Timbers who unlocked the stalemate in the 77th on a strike by Josten. Atlas was able to level in the 90th minute on a penalty-kick goal by defender Luis Robles after Portland defender Quavas Kirk committed a foul in the box, forcing the match to be decided in a shootout.

The Timbers converted all four of their attempts and substitute goalkeeper Jake Gleeson made two clutch saves to secure the exhibition win on penalty kicks 4-2; Josten, midfielders Alex Nimo and Rodrigo Lopez and defender Stephen Keel all scored in the shootout.

Josten's second-half tally was his first goal in any competition this season, midfielder Freddie Braun recorded the assist and goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski got the start and logged five saves to guide the Timbers to their second exhibition win of the season.

Robles, a former member of the Mexican U-23 National Team, and defender Gerardo Flores each recorded a team-high three shots, midfielder Saul Villalobos had a shot hit off the crossbar and former Mexican National Team striker Daniel Osorno provided a shot for Atlas.

After a scoreless first half, the match opened up in the second. Portland found the first goal of the night as Braun, a member of the Timbers' development team called the Timbers U-23s, played a through ball up the middle of the park to Josten 25 yards out from goal. Josten turned and then drove a low shot along the ground inside the left post for the go-ahead score.

Atlas nearly pulled even a minute later on a header by forward Flavio Santos off a corner kick, but Pyzdrowski was in position to deny the effort with a quick reaction save in the 79th minute.

The Mexican side pressured late and in the final minute of regulation, Santos laid his second shot of the night off the crossbar. Atlas continued attack into second-half stoppage time, and a missed-timed tackle by Kirk along the left side of the box set up Robles for the chance to tie the game from the spot. He beat Gleeson, also a member of the Timbers U-23s, with a shot to his left to knot the score at 1-1.

In the penalty-kick shootout, the two clubs traded goals in the first round before Gleeson turned in his first save of the shootout on a shot by Atlas' Rene Zamora. Nimo and Keel then converted their efforts to give Portland a 3-2 edge entering the fourth round. Gleeson denied Flores' chance for Atlas, and Lopez, who played in the youth academy of Atlas' cross-town rival Chivas de Guadalajara, slotted home the Timbers' fourth penalty kick attempt to lock up the match.

The Timbers play host to English Premier League side Manchester City in an international exhibition match Saturday, July 17, at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available exclusively to season ticket holders. Prorated season tickets are available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555.

Notes: Earlier in the day, the Timbers U-23s clinched the Premier Development League's Northwest Division championship with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at PGE Park. The team has two regular-season matches remaining ... Portland had three injured players return to action Sunday, including midfielders Johan Claesson and Keith Savage as well as Kirk ... Joining Gleeson and Braun, Timbers U-23s defender Graham Dugoni also saw action in the friendly against Atlas.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 12, 2010


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