MNUFC2 fell 2-1 to Timbers2 on Friday night at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota. Luke Hille opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with his second goal of the season, but Portland responded with goals on either side of halftime to claim all three points. The Twos will look to bounce back when they travel to face San Jose Earthquakes II on Saturday, August 8, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
11’ - Jakob Friedman created MNUFC2's first dangerous scoring opportunity after earning a free kick just outside the top-center of the penalty area. Friedman aimed his effort toward the top-right corner, but the shot sailed over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
21’ - The Twos earned another dangerous scoring chance off of a long possession as Luciano Pechota lobbed a pass over to Andy Farris on the left side of the pitch. Farris quickly one-touched the ball and crossed it into the 6-yard box where Luke Hille gained possession, shook off a defender and took a strong shot towards the net, but Timbers2 goalkeeper Samuel Joseph made a diving save deflecting the ball out.
23’ - Minnesota continued to threaten as Luke Hille's initial shot was blocked by defender Bryce VanVoorhis. Hector Cruz recovered the loose ball, but it continued to ricochet around the penalty area. Hille eventually slipped a short pass to Troy Putt, whose curling effort bent just wide of the right post.
29’ - Farris found Hille with a well-placed ball over two Timbers2 defenders, sending him in on the run. This time Hille carried it into the box, took a couple of touches to create separation, and beat Joseph with his shot to find the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
38’ - Timbers2 created their first dangerous scoring opportunity as Daniel Cervantes one-touched a cross that rolled into the 6-yard box, but Kristers Bite was able to close the angle and save the shot that was aimed at the near post.
43’ (1-0) - Hille opened the scoring for the Twos after Farris carried the ball into the attacking third before slipping a pass to Friedman in the center. Friedman then played Troy down the left flank where he delivered a cross toward the penalty spot, where Hille controlled the ball before firing a shot into the bottom-left corner to give MNUFC2 the lead.
45’ +3’ (1-1) - Timbers2 equaled the scoring on a play where Lucas Fernandez-Kim deflected a cross that came in from the left side of the pitch with a flying header, forcing Bite to make a split-second save. Bite’s save was deflected back into play, and midfielder Eric Izota ran toward the rebounded ball, took a shot that ultimately beat a diving Bite, finding the back of the net.
57’ - Hille created another dangerous chance as he shook off a defender on the right side of the box which created space. He then passed the ball to the top of the box that found Friedman who missed his shot wide of the right post.
65’ (1-2) - Timbers2 doubled their lead through Izoita after Connor Ferguson slipped him a pass. Izoita carried the ball from the middle third before driving into Minnesota's penalty area and firing a shot that found the far post.
75’ - Goalkeeper Bite made a crucial save to keep the deficit at one. Cervantes found himself one-on-one with Bite after receiving the ball inside the penalty area. With his back to goal, Cervantes turned and fired a shot, but Bite quickly came off his line to make a point-blank save with his body.
87’ - Timbers2 earned a free kick a few yards outside the penalty area, where Colin Griffith stepped up to take it. Griffith went directly for goal, but Kristers Bite made the initial save. The ball then ricocheted off the crossbar before Bite gathered it safely to keep the deficit at one.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Luke Hille (Troy Putt, Jakob Friedman) - 43’
1-1 POR2 - Eric Izoita - 45’ + 3’
1-2 POR2 - Eric Izoita (Connor Ferguson, Nicklas Lund) - 73’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
MNUFC2 - Phillip Tarnue (caution) - 34’
MNUFC2 - Luke Hille (caution) - 66’
MNUFC2 - Alpha Kabia (caution) - 85’
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through July 31, 2026)
Goals – Marcus Caldeira (10)
Assists – Darius Randell (5)
Saves – Kristers Bite (32)
Wins – Kristers Bite, Keane Perkins (3)
Shutouts – Kristers Bite, Keane Perkins (2)
NOTABLE STATS
1 – MNUFC Academy U18 midfielder George Porter made his MNUFC2 and MLS NEXT Pro debut appearance when he entered the match as a second-half substitute.
LINEUPS
MNUFC2 XI: GK Kristers Bite; D Anderson Farris, Philip Tarnue, Jack Clarkson, Samuel Vigilante (Nick Dang 62’); M Troy Putt (Darius Randell 69’), Luciano Pechota (Calin Grulke 87’), Hector Cruz (George Porter 62’), Alpha Kabia ©, Jakob Friedman (Brody Schauf 87’); F Luke Hille
Substitutes Not Used: GK James McCann; D Jadan Bernard
Portland Timbers 2 XI: GK Samuel Joseph; D Charles Ondo, Alex Bamford, Bryce VanVoorhis, Nicklas Lund, Connor Ferguson (Henry Mueller 81’); M Benjamin Barjolo (Colin Griffith 53’), Eric Izoita, Victor Enriquez © , Lucas Fernandez-Kim (Cole Cruthers 90’ + 2’); F Daniel Cervantes
Substitutes Not Used: GK Max Nelson; M Noah Zendejas, Jacob Izoita; F Maximilian Kissel, Daniel Nunez
