PORTLAND, Ore. – (Club release) The Kitsap Pumas handed the Portland Timbers U-23 their first defeat of the 2015 PDL season, winning 2-0 in front of 8,121 fans at Providence Park on Friday. The win helped maintain the Pumas perfect start to the season.

Match Gallery: by Jeff Halstead

In other PDL matches, Puget Sound drew 1-1 with Washington Crossfire and the Sounders U23 beat Lane United 1-0.

The opening exchanges were cagey, both sides seemingly content with not conceding which resulted in limited goalmouth action. The Timbers were first to threaten midway through the half, with two shots from distance being comfortably held by Grosey in the Pumas goal. Pumas midfielder Carlos Patino returned the favor with two efforts of his own, but failed to work the goalkeeper with either effort. First his right footed free-kick could only find a resolute Timbers wall before a first time shot from 12 yards, on a Mike Ramos cutback, sailed high into the crowd. The lively Ramos forced the Timbers goalkeeper in to a save on the stroke of half-time, bending a free-kick from 20 yards around the wall before seeing it pushed away.

Half-Time: Portland Timbers U-23 0-0 Kitsap Pumas

The Pumas began dictating the flow of the game in the second half, again without creating many clear chances. As the game wore on, players began to tire on both sides in the blistering heat and the game looked more and more likely to finish scoreless. The Pumas did not look they wanted to share the spoils and on 84 minutes two substitutes combined to break the deadlock. Ortinau managed to escape two Timbers defenders in the corner before finding Ramos with a precise pass. Ramos made room for himself and smashed across the face of goal where Logan Miller was waiting to divert the ball home.

With under 5 minutes left, the Timbers had no alternative but to commit bodies forward however that ultimately played right in to the hands of the fresh-legged Pumas substitutes. When a Timbers free-kick on the edge of the box was blocked by the Pumas ball, Ashkanov Apollon was first to react. He played a delightful give and go with Chimdum Mez to set himself free down the left hand side. As he reached the Timbers box he picked out the onrushing Justin Ortinau who cooly rounded the keeper and slotted home to ensure maximum points for the Bremerton boys.

Full-Time: Portland Timbers U-23 0-2 Kitsap Pumas

Pumas head coach Cameron MacDonald was understandably delighted with the win, “The boys were fantastic today. We knew on a hot day like this, with a big field that it would be a marathon, not a sprint. The guys who started defended extremely well and set the platform for those on the bench to come on and win the game for us.”

Kitsap host Puget Sound Gunner this Sunday, May 31st, at Gordon Field in Bremerton; kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.