This is a press release courtesy of the Portland Timbers

Forward Teteh Bangura scored twice to lead the Cascade Surge to a 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers U-23s at McCulloch Stadium on Friday night. The Timbers U-23s were shutout for just the second time this season.

The Surge used an early goal in each half to hand Portland just its third loss of the season continue to close the gap on the Northwest Division leaders. Bangura scored both goals in the opening minutes of each half off of unforced defensive errors by the Timbers U-23s.

Cascade opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Bangura pounced on a loose ball in Portland’s box. Goalkeeper Austin Guerrero came out to challenge Bangura and clipped him inside the box, awarding Cascade a penalty kick. Bangura converted the goal to put the Cascade a head 1-0.

The Timbers U-23s best chance of the night came when forward Roberto Farfan carried the ball down the left side of the field and sent in a driven cross that found an unmarked Daniel Leach just inside the six. Leach headed the ball on frame, but Surge goalkeeper Steve Reese was in position to secure the shot and help preserve his clean sheet.

Bangura struck early again in the second half, when Cascade took advantage of a Timbers U-23s defensive mistake in the 47th minute and pushed Cascade ahead 2-0.

Portland returns home on Sunday afternoon to host the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at PGE Park at 1 p.m. in a special doubleheader with the Portland Timbers first team. Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased at the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com<http://www.ticketmaster.com/> or by phone at (800) 745-3000. The first team faces the Montreal Impact at 5 p.m.

Notes: Farfan and defender Gemechu Abraham both started their first match of the season Friday … The Surge remain unbeaten (4-0-1) at home with their win over Portland.