PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers went with a lineup of trialists and reserves on Day Two of the Portland Timbers preseason tournament and predictably wilted against a first-team lineup from FCD Dallas, with the visitors taking a 1-0 win on Wednesday night at JELD-WEN Field.
A 16th-minute goal by Dallas forward Blas Pérez from a David Ferreira corner held up on a chilly night, giving Dallas their first win of the four-team, three-day exhibition. They played Swedish side AIK to a 0-0 draw on Sunday.
FCD Forward Kenny Cooper played in front of his former Portland supporters but struggled to stay on the same page with fellow striker Pérez in the run of play, resulting in several touches to empty space and no shots for Cooper. Pérez's goal came off a scramble inside the box after the Ferreira corner kick, with Pérez blasting a right-footed shot into the back of the net.
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Portland’s makeshift lineup – not one starter from the Timbers’ 3-3 draw Sunday against San Jose even dressed for the game – was discombobulated more often than not, a far cry from Sunday’s smoothly orchestrated attack. Newly arrived French trialist Frederic Piquionne’s best shot to impress came in the 68th minute, when he got off a good look from the right wing. He beat Dallas goalkeeper Raúl Fernández, but the shot rolled just wide of the far post.
The tournament concludes Saturday, with Dallas facing off against San Jose and Portland playing AIK in the finale.
San Jose Earthquakes 0, AIK 0
The San Jose Earthquakes trotted out a team of almost entirely reserves and trialists in their second match of the Portland Timbers preseason tournament on Wednesday night, and ended up with a soggy scoreless draw against Swedish side AIK at JELD-WEN Field.
The draw was the second in as many games in the tournament for the Quakes, who went with their first-team in Sunday’s 3-3 stalemate against the host Timbers.
There was far less electricity against AIK, who trudged to their second scoreless draw of the tournament after opening against FC Dallas.
The highlight of the night for the Quakes was the play of non-roster invitee and Tottenham midfielder John Bostock, who joined the club last week and could be an option for loan from the English Premier League power. The 21-year-old Englishman started in the central midfield and played 62 minutes, and led the Quakes with two shots on goal.
He also created the club’s best genuine scoring chance in the 36th minute, when he cut inside from the right channel near the top of the box, and fired a left-footed shot that was saved by AIK goalkeeper Kyriakos Stamtopoulos.
AIK rarely threatened Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham, and found themselves down a man when midfielder Ibrahim Moro cracked San Jose midfielder Brad Ring with a forearm near midfield and was sent off. Winger Sal Jobarteh had the team’s best chance late, when he sailed a shot from the right flank just over the crossbar in the 79th minute.
Quakes midfielders Sam Cronin and Ramiro Corrales came on in the 61st minute, while striker Chris Wondolowski and defender Jason Hernandez appeared in the 71st. Wondolowski rocketed a right-footed shot over the bar from the top of the box in the 90th minute on his best look of the night.
