PORTLAND, Ore. — Despite a goal and an assist from Haji Wright (LA Galaxy), the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team fell to the Portland Timbers Reserves 3-2 in a Monday morning match at Providence Park.

The Timbers, whose lineup was comprised of first team reserves and academy players, pushed the pace of the match in the early going. With a speed advantage over the younger central defenders of the U.S. U17s, the Timbers kept them off balance through much of the first ten minutes.

The opening goal of the match came in the 15th minute, when Alvas Powell burst down the right wing, got by his man before dropping the ball back to Timbers Academy product Jesse Garcia at the top of the box. Garcia took a quick touch toward the the center of the pitch before curling a well placed shot around U.S. U17 keeper Kevin Silva (PDA) and into the back of the net to put the Timbers up 1-0.

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Going a goal down seemed to calm the nerves of the U.S. as the remainder of the half saw them start to control the run of play, holding long periods of possession and playing out of the high pressure defense favored by the Timbers. As the first half came to a close, both teams were getting forward in the attack well, but neither could break down their opponent’s defenses.

The second half started out even, with both sides getting chances, but in the 59th minute the Timbers were the first to convert, extending their lead to 2-0. Schillo Tshuma sent a curling corner kick into the U.S. box, finding the head of academy defender Peter Prescott for a header that substitute keeper Will Pulisic (Richmond Strikers) could not get a hand to.

The goal came after some heroics from Pulisic gave up the corner kick. Timbers Academy player Foster Langsdorf got off a shot at the top of the U.S. box that sent Pulisic diving to his back post, only to have the ball deflect off a foot and up into the air, spinning toward the goal. Pulisic managed to throw himself back at the ball from his prone position, getting a fingertip to it and sending it just wide of the post.

The U.S. U17s pulled one back quickly, taking advantage of a hole in the Timbers’ defense in the 61st minute as Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas) received the ball with space in the center of the pitch and picked out Wright making a run at the Timbers’ backline. Zendejas sent a perfectly weighted ball through into space where Wright ran onto it, took a touch, and fired the ball around Timbers practice keeper Justin Luthy and inside the far post, bringing the score back to 2-1.

With only a one goal lead for the Timbers, the game opened up as both teams looked to break their opponents open with quick counterattacks.

The Timbers were the beneficiary of the game’s breakneck pace when, in the 73rd minute, Powell got what would turn out to be the game-winning goal. Tshuma received the ball on the right flank with Edwin Lara (De Anza Force) on his back and, unable to turn, laid the ball off to Powell as he took off down the sideline. With a pair of quick touches, Powell was through on goal and took a low, hard shot that Pulisic got a hand to, but could not keep from rolling into the net.

Once again the U.S. U17s struck back quickly, getting back within one less than a minute later when Wright beat his man on the outside and made it to the end line, before cutting the ball back to substitute Orrin Gaines (Lonestar SC). With Luthy closing down Wright, Gaines only had to strike the ball on target to score, which he did with his first touch to make it 3-2 in favor of the Timbers.

The loss concluded the U.S. U17s’ three game tour of the Pacific Northwest. Last Monday they drew the Seattle Sounders Reserves 0-0 and on Wednesday they beat the University of Portland Pilots 3-2.

United States U-17 Men’s National Team: 2

Portland Timbers Reserves: 3

U.S. Starting XI: 

Kevin Silva (William Pulisic, 45th minute); Edwin Lara, Alexis Velela (Tanner Dieterich, 57th minute), Hugo Arellano, Matthew Olosunde; Eric Calvillo, Alejandro Zendejas (Nicholas Taitague, 85th minute); Pierre Da Silva (Orrin Gaines, 57th minute), Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright; Elijah Rice (Thomas McCabe, 68’)

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