Sounders celebrate their game winner in the 1st meeting vs. Portland on June 2 (photo by Chris Coulter, SoundersPhotos.com)

Tacoma, WA – The Sounders U-23 will head south to Vancouver, WA Friday night to take on the Portland Timbers U-23. The Sounders and Timbers will meet for the second time this season, kicking off at 7:30pm at the Kiggins Bowl.

In their first meeting on June 2nd, the Sounders U-23 came away with a 1-0 victory thanks to a dramatic stoppage time goal from Jamael Cox.

The Cascadia rivals find themselves separated by just one point in the PDL Northwest division standings. The Sounders U-23 (5-2-3) are in fourth place with 18 points, and the Timbers U-23 (6-2-1) are in third place with 19.

The U-23s from Portland have come back to earth a bit since their red-hot start of five wins in a row to start the season. In their four games since, they have accumulated only four points including losses to the Sounders U-23 and Washington Crossfire FC. However, the Timbers U-23 come into this matchup off of a 4-1 home-victory over the North Sound SeaWolves FC.

The Sounders-U23 will have to shake off a disappointing loss to the Kitsap Pumas from last Friday night at Cheney Stadium. The 3-0 shutout was only the second loss suffered by the Sounders U-23, the first, also to the Pumas, coming a month ago.

Friday’s match against the Timbers U-23 is the first in a tough stretch of four road matches in a row for the Sounders U-23. With only six matches remaining in the season, a win over a talented Portland side could prove to be a pivotal three points with playoff implications on the line.

For coverage on the match, see SoundersU23.com or follow the Sounders U23 on Twitter @SoundersU23.