Timbers U-23s set for semifinal match

The Portland Timbers under-23 team will face the Fresno Fuego on Saturday in a Premier Development League Western Conference semifinal match in California.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Ventura College.

The winner will play at 5 p.m. Sunday for the PDL’s Western Conference championship. Victoria Highlanders FC faces host Ventura County Fusion in Saturday’s other semifinal.

The Fresno Fuego had a conference-best record of 11-1-2 during the regular season, scoring 32 goals and allowing only eight.

The four PDL conference champions will gather on Aug. 2 for the national semifinals and finals at a site to be determined after this weekend.

The Timbers U23s advanced to the semifinals by beating the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U23s on Tuesday in Camas. That match was decided by penalty kicks after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at Doc Harris Stadium.

Camas native Anthony Macchione played 32 minutes at forward in the Tuesday playoff win. Vancouver resident Foster Langsdorf also suited up on Tuesday for the Timbers U23s, but did not see action. Macchione and Langsdorf are both part of the Timbers youth academy and have also seen action in Timbers Reserves matches this season.