By PAUL DANZER
Columbian staff writer
PORTLAND – Tuesday’s visit to Providence Park by English Premier League club Newcastle United was a bonus match for Portland Timbers season ticket holders. It also provided a nice lift for young Timbers players who are looking to establish themselves.
Oh, and it didn’t hurt that Portland Timbers 2, the club’s USL side, produced a 4-3 win over the visitors from England in front of an announced crowd of 15,069.
Michael Nanchoff had two assists in a strong effort and Fatawu, Anthony Manning, Taylor Peay and Nick Besler scored goals for T2. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson came up with a couple of nice saves in an end-to-end match.
“It was a no-pressure game for us,” said Nanchoff, who served as team captain on Tuesday. “It was amazing for us to go out on the field and have a blast with one another and the win makes it even more special.”
For Newcastle, which wrapped up a three-game United States trip on Wednesday, 19-year-old winger Rolando Aarons provided plenty of offense with two goals and an assist – including an over-the-head effort with his back to goal. Newcastle coach Steve McClaren said he was glad to come out of the match with no injuries. He said he rested several regulars rather than risk injury playing on the artificial surface.
The T2 team was a mix of MLS Timbers who have seen little or no action with the first team this season and T2 regulars. George Fochive, Peay, Jeanderson and Nanchoff were the players who have seen time in MLS this season. Gleeson and rookies Besler in midfield and Andy Thoma at left back – players who have played exclusively for T2 this season — were the other players from the MLS roster who started the exhibition.
The other T2 starters were Kharlton Belmar and Fatawu up front and Rennico Clarke and Manning in central defense. Justin Luthy played goalkeeper in the second half, and Blair Gavin and Rundell Winchester were second-half substitutes.
Camas native Brent Richards was not available because of a hamstring injury.
Nanchoff said one of the special moments was swapping jerseys after the match with winger Gabriel Obertan, a player he has admired who Nanchoff described as “fast as lightning and he definitely showed it.”
Newcastle struck first in the sixth minute when Georginio Wijnaldum scored off a cross from Aarons. A 24-year-old Dutch midfielder, Wijnaldum signed with Newcastle 11 days ago.
Fatawu evened the score seven minutes later, pouncing on a rebound after Belmar broke free and forced a one-on-one save from goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Two Nanchoff deliveries put Portland ahead by the half-hour mark. His free kick was headed home by Anthony Manning in the 23rd minute. In the 30th Peay finished from close range after Rennico Clarke got a solid head to a Nanchoff corner kick.
Beasler made it 4-1 by heading home a Jeanderson cross on a play that started from the back and included with a nice move by Portland’s Rundell Winchester in midfield.
Newcastle closed the gap quickly as Aarons scored twice in a minute to make it 4-3. The first of those, in the 75th minute, was an over-the-head effort with his back to goal from 6 yards in front.
T2 coach Jay Vidovich said the four goals, and the way his team held off Newcastle’s late-match push for a tying goal, can only generate confidence for his young players.
“We’re young pros trying to get to the next level. Our expectations were we were going to get a bit of a lesson and it happened (on the Newcastle goals),” Vidovich said.
At the same time, Vidovich said he was impressed with the way his players attacked with confidence throughout the 90 minutes.
“It’s fun to see where our guys are now compared to where they were at the beginning of the season, to see that growth in the process,” Vidovich said. “They’re starting to get some personality. To experience that, that’s why you’re in coaching.”
McClaren, a former coach of England’s national team who was hired by Newcastle in mid-June, had some very different priorities as he prepares his team for the start of the English Premier League season in less than three weeks. He said 10-day trips like this one are always difficult, but can be valuable.
“We need to get to know the players. There’s no better way to get to know the players than when you come on tour and you travel for 10-11 days together. But the players have been tremendous.”
Tuesday’s match was part of stretch of four games over eight days for T2, which plays on Friday in Tukwila against Sounders 2 then hosts L.A. Galaxy II on Sunday at the University of Portland.
None of the Timbers first-team players who participated in last weekend’s draw with Vancouver were available for this exhibition. The Timbers travel to Dallas on Saturday for a MLS match.
