MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 22, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Unbeaten in three consecutive matches, the Portland Timbers play host to Spanish club Valencia CF in an international exhibition Wednesday at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., before welcoming Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday for the first Cascadia Cup match of the Timbers season. Kickoff for Saturday's match is set for 7 p.m.

Saturday's contest, presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with radio broadcasts airing on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM. Saturday's match also includes a "House of Pane" t-shirt giveaway, presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors.

Wednesday's match also will be broadcast over the radio at 750 AM The Game and La Pantera 940 AM. Fans can watch a live stream of Wednesday's friendly against Valencia CF at www.portlandtimbers.com.

The Timbers (3-5-3, 12pts) are unbeaten in three straight league games and have earned a shutout in three of their last five matches. Portland recently beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on a goal by defender Eric Brunner in the 20th minute and a Chicago own goal in the 52nd minute in front of a sold-out crowd at JELD-WEN Field.

On Wednesday, the Timbers square off against a Valencia CF side fresh off a third-place finish in the 2011-12 La Liga season. Valencia CF, who hired new head coach Mauricio Pellegrino following the season, also made it to the semifinal rounds of the Copa del Rey (Spain's domestic cup) and the UEFA Europa League competition.

After facing five straight Eastern Conference opponents, the Timbers face a Whitecaps FC team (5-3-3, 18pts) that has lost just once in their last five league contests and is coming off of a thrilling 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders FC on May 19 at BC Place in Vancouver. Before coming to Portland, Vancouver faces Toronto FC in the decisive second leg of the clubs' Canadian Championship series Wednesday.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

- Saturday marks the third meeting in MLS between the Timbers and Whitecaps FC, and the first of three meetings this season between the clubs.

- Dating back to the NASL and USL eras, the Timbers are 26-33-11 against Whitecaps FC.

- Last season, Diego Chara scored the quickest goal in Timbers' MLS history against Vancouver with a strike in the second minute of a 2-1 win at JELD-WEN Field on Aug. 20, 2011.

- The Timbers won both meetings between the two sides last season, 2-1 on Aug. 20 at JELD-WEN Field and 1-0 at BC Place on Oct. 2

- Saturday's match is the Timbers' first in the Cascadia Cup this season. A competition created by supporters of Portland, Vancouver and Seattle, the Cascadia Cup is awarded to the squad with best regular-season record in matches between the three Pacific Northwest teams and has been contested since 2004. Portland won the Cascadia Cup in back-to-back seasons from 2009-10.

- The Timbers are 18-10-2 all-time at home against Whitecaps FC.

The Timbers have earned eight points from their last five matches. Portland is unbeaten in its last three home matches (2-0-1) at JELD-WEN Field, earning wins over Sporting Kansas City (April 21) and Chicago (May 20). The Timbers' 11 corner kicks against the Fire on May 20 set a new season high. The previous mark in 2012 was seven, reached March 12 against Philadelphia and April 21 against Sporting KC. When scoring the opening goal of a game, the Timbers are 13-3-4 as an MLS club.

TIMBERS PLAYER NOTES vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

- Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 40th consecutive start for the Timbers on May 20 versus Chicago. Perkins' streak is the fourth-longest among active MLS goalkeepers for consecutive starts.

- Perkins set a club record of 377 minutes without allowing a goal; the club's previous MLS record for consecutive minutes of shutout play was 342 minutes. The streak ended in the 39th minute against Chicago on May 20.

- Midfielder Diego Chara made his 23rd straight start for the Timbers on Sunday, continuing to stretch his Timbers MLS record for starts by a field player.

Timbers defender Futty Danso has made seven career appearances against Whitecaps FC since 2009. Danso scored the game-winning goal for the Timbers in a 2-1 win over Vancouver on July 22, 2010 - the first time Portland had won in Vancouver since 2004. Timbers defender Steve Purdy (6 appearances) and midfielder Kalif Alhassan (4) both have experience against Whitecaps FC dating back to the club's second-division era. Vancouver forward Sebastien Le Toux has registered three goals and one assist against Portland dating back to the Frenchman's days with the USL Seattle Sounders in 2007-08. Vancouver players Davide Chiumiento and Gershon Koffie both have experience against the Timbers in the second-division. The pair played in both MLS matches against the Timbers last season, as well. Camilo (3 goals) and Le Toux (3 goals) spearhead a dangerous Whitecaps FC attack that also features Frenchman Eric Hassli (2 goals) and midfield playmaker Davide Chiumiento (3 assists).

- Midfielder Sal Zizzo played 45 minutes against Chicago, coming on as a second-half substitute. Zizzo made his 2012 debut against Houston, entering the match as a sub in the 60th minute.

- Sunday's match marked Zizzo's longest outing with the first team since recovering from ACL surgery in his left knee last October.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia 101: Familiarize yourself with the Timbers opponent for Wednesday's exhibition

The Timbers face Spain's Valencia CF on Wednesday in the club's first international exhibition of the 2012 regular season - the Timbers played Swedish club AIK during the preseason. Click here to find out more about Valencia CF and a few of their former players.

Valencia CF, founded in 1919, is one of the most successful teams in Spanish soccer history. Located on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain, the club has won six top-league La Liga titles, the last coming in 2004. In addition, Valencia has won the Spanish competition Copa del Rey seven times, and has been highly successful in European competitions, winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1980. Their home ground is the historic Estadio Mestalla, one of the more intimidating environments in European soccer.

Timbers to host Cal FC in third round of 2012 U.S. Open Cup May 30 at JELD-WEN Field

The Timbers begin play in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by playing host to Cal FC of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) in a third-round match on Wednesday, May 30, at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Timbers' U.S. Open Cup match start at $10, and go on sale to the general public Wednesday at 10 a.m. through the JELD-WEN Field box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Click here for additional information on the Timbers participation in the U.S. Open Cup.

Cal FC, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., advanced to the third round by defeating the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL PRO 4-0 on Tuesday in Wilmington, N.C. Cal FC defeated the Kitsap Pumas of the Premier Development League 3-1 in the first round of the tournament.

Timbers players, alumni, staff and supporters raise more than $13,000 to fight children's cancer

Timbers players, Timber Joey, team alumni ambassadors and staff joined together on May 19 to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-based charity focused on finding a cure for children with cancer.

The Timbers' St. Baldrick's team had 37 members join the 2012 event. Notable team members who decided to shave their heads were Timbers players Joe Bendik, Ryan Kawulok and Brent Richards, assistant coach Cameron Knowles, Alumni Ambassadors Scot Thompson and John Bain, and Timber Joey. Along with members of the Timbers Army, front office staff and other Timbers supporters who joined the cause, the entire group raised over $13,000 for St. Baldrick's. Click here to read the entire story of the St. Baldrick's event.

Timbers Reserves play first home game Sunday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves

The Timbers Reserves will play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves on May 27 at 2 p.m. (Pacific) at JELD-WEN Field.

The match is the Timbers Reserves first home game of the 2012 MLS Reserve League season and tickets are available for $10 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or in person at the JELD-WEN Field box office.

Five-game Reserve League season tickets are available by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or emailing ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com. Single-game tickets are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For group opportunities (15 or more) or to take advantage of corporate hospitality, picnic areas, and on-field opportunities, please contact the Timbers ticket office.

Sunday's match also will be streamed live at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Timbers announce academy coaching staff

The Portland Timbers announced the coaching staff for the club's new Timbers Academy U-16 and U-18 teams, set to begin play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this fall. Timbers Academy directors Mike Smith and Adam Smith will serve as the head coaches of the U-16 and U-18 sides, respectively.

Additionally, the Timbers have appointed John Bain, a standout for the NASL Timbers, and Rod Underwood, a former assistant coach for the second-division Timbers, as assistant coaches for academy teams. Both Mike Smith and Adam Smith will also serve as assistant coaches. Former second-division Timbers goalkeeper Steve Reese will serve as the goalkeeper coach for both age groups.

Portland's Nagbe, Timbers Army and JELD-WEN Field prominently featured in new adidas TV ad

Timbers forward/midfielder Darlington Nagbe, JELD-WEN Field and the club's supporters group, the Timbers Army, are all prominently featured in the new television ad for adidas' "Smart Soccer" MLS campaign; click here to watch the ad online.

The spot made its television premier during last weekend's UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea on FOX Soccer.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

TV: "Timbers In 30"

The Timbers weekly television show, "Timbers In 30," features exclusive, inside access to the club and airs each Friday at 6:30 p.m. on KPTV Fox 12. Moved to a new, Friday night time slot this season, "Timbers In 30" will focus on inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provide detailed team and game analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers players and coaches each week.

Previously aired shows and "Timbers In 30" features can be found at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors airs each Tuesdays at 6 p.m. (Pacific) on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, "Talk Timbers" features interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS during the 2012 season.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 22, 2012


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