MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Play Impact to Draw in Second Preseason Contest

Published on February 10, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


CARSON, Calif. - In their second test of the 2012 preseason, the Portland Timbers played the Montreal Impact to a 0-0 draw at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Friday.

The draw brought the Timbers record to 1-0-1 on the preseason and was the second of four scheduled games to take place during the team's 12-day training camp in Southern California.

"I was pretty happy with our performance," Timbers head coach John Spencer said after the game. "I think we handled ourselves pretty well."

The Timbers next face the Houston Dynamo on Sunday at The Home Depot Center at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific).

After a first half that saw limited scoring opportunities for the Portland side, the Timbers were able to create more chances in the second half. As was the case in their preseason-opening, 4-1 victory over the LA Galaxy on Tuesday, the Timbers fielded two different lineups for each half Friday against the Impact.

In all, 22 different players saw time on the field for Portland on Friday.

In the 48th minute, Jack Jewsbury got his head on the end of a corner kick, but his effort went high over the crossbar. Twelve minutes later, a similar sequence found forward Brent Richards in a good position in the box off a corner, but his header went just wide of the near post.

A sharp passing sequence in the attacking third between Eric Alexander and Sebastián Rinc�n sprung midfielder Franck Songo'o to the left of the goal in the 57th minute, but his shot struck the near post at close range.

The Impact had the advantage in chances in the first half, most noticeably in the fourth minute when Sanna Nyassi found himself alone to the right of the goal and launched a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar.

In the 33rd minute, the Timbers backline was up for the challenge in clearing consecutive corner-kick opportunities by Montreal, and Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik was on form in the waning minutes of the half with a pair of saves on his way to the shutout, the Timbers' first of the preseason.

"We are happy with where we are right now," Spencer said. "We've played two games - win one and tied one - it's good for morale and it's good for confidence."

The Timbers return to their regular training schedule Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, beginning at 10 a.m.

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