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Timbers Weekly Update

March 28, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers face Colorado in second straight road match Saturday

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers return to league play Saturday following a bye week, as they travel to face the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., at 3 p.m. (Pacific).

Saturday's match will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS, with live radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

The Timbers (0-1-2, 2pts) play their second straight road match on Saturday after recently earning a point on the road against Seattle Sounders FC in a 1-1 draw on March 16. It was the second time this season in which Portland overturned a halftime deficit to earn a draw, a feat that occurred just four times in 23 occurrences during the club's first two MLS campaigns.

Despite having an off week, the Timbers rank among league leaders in shots (53), shots on goal (18) and corner kicks (20). Portland also ranks second in MLS, only to the LA Galaxy, in fewest shots allowed (26) and the club's shot differential of +27 is also second-best in the league.

Saturday's fixture is the first of three regular-season meetings between the Timbers and Rapids (0-3-1, 1pt) and is Portland's only trip to Colorado in 2013. The Timbers play host to the Rapids on June 23 and Sept. 20 at JELD-WEN Field.

This will be the sixth meeting all-time in the MLS series between Portland and Colorado, and the Timbers fourth visit to Dick's Sporting Goods Park since joining MLS in 2011. The Timbers are 1-4-0 all-time against the Rapids, earning a 1-0 victory on Aug. 30, 2012, at JELD-WEN Field.

The Timbers welcomed back defender Futty Danso, forward Ryan Johnson, midfielder Will Johnson and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts from international duty Thursday at training. The four players were away with their respective national teams for various international competitions.

Additionally, the Timbers Reserves (1-0-0, 3pts) continue their MLS Reserve League season this weekend, playing against the Rapids Reserves (0-1-0, 0pts) on Field 20 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The kickoff time for the match has been moved to 1 p.m. (Pacific).

TEAM NEWS

Watch Saturday's match at one of your local Timbers pub partners

Fans are invited to join one of the many Timbers viewing parties on Saturday at local Timbers pub partners, presented by ROOT SPORTS. A list of the 2013 Timbers pub partners - from Vancouver, Wash., to Corvallis, Ore. - holding viewing parties on Saturday is available on the Timbers Facebook page or by clicking here.

All viewing parties will feature unique giveaways and Timbers season ticket holders can earn Rose City Rewards points by attending any of Saturday's viewing party locations.

Zizzo, Richards to help plant trees Saturday with Friends of Trees; volunteers welcome

Volunteers are welcome to join Timbers players Brent Richards and Sal Zizzo and mascot Timber Joey on Saturday as they plant trees with community pillar partner Friends of Trees in Happy Valley, Ore., from 9-10:30 a.m. (Pacific). Click here for further details on the tree-planting event and location.

A portion of the trees planted Saturday are part of the Timbers' "Score a Goal, Plant a Tree" program, presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors. The tree-planting is also one of the volunteer restoration events led by Friends of Trees along the banks of Rock Creek and its tributaries.

To volunteer, visit www.friendsoftrees.org/volunteering or contact AndyM@FriendsofTrees.org for details.

JELD-WEN Field's FieldTurf surface earns third FIFA 2-Star certification

JELD-WEN Field's FieldTurf surface has earned FIFA Recommended 2-Star status for a third consecutive year, it was announced today. The playing surface, which became the only FIFA recommended field in the state of Oregon in 2011, is one of only two fields in the United States to have been re-tested and pass the FIFA 2-Star testing three straight years.

JELD-WEN Field's FieldTurf surface was installed in March 2011 as a high-performance surface designed specifically to mirror elite levels of playing characteristics for soccer. Click here for more on JELD-WEN Field's FIFA Recommended 2-Star status.

Timbers invite fans to "˜Spread the Love'

The Timbers are inviting fans to nominate deserving people in the community to receive free match tickets through the club's "Spread the Love" campaign. Through special nominations by fans at www.SpreadtheLovePTFC.com and the work of 107 Timbers ambassadors, fans who have not attended a Timbers match are getting their first experiences at JELD-WEN Field. Fans will be selected prior to each home match throughout the season, and will receive a special "Spread the Love" welcome packet, which includes a custom scarf, tickets to a Timbers match, a Timbers Reserves match and a Portland Thorns FC match, all in a Timbers tote bag. Visit www.SpreadtheLovePTFC.com to learn more and to nominate a deserving fan today.

Timbers launch Rose City Rewards for club's season ticket holders

The Timbers have launched Rose City Rewards, a special program available to the club's season ticket holders through their Season Ticket Card. Now, season tickets holders can accrue points to achieve different rewards levels and be invited to participate in one-of-a-kind experiences, such as tours of the adidas Timbers Training Center and other exclusive Rose City Rewards events. Points can be gained by attending matches at JELD-WEN Field, watching away matches on the club's broadcast partners or by watching the club's weekly television show, "Timbers in 30," each Friday on KPTV FOX 12. Loyalty points can then be used to bid on exclusive items. Click here for more on Rose City Rewards.

To join the Timbers Season Ticket Waiting List, contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com .

Tickets for 2013 Gold Cup matches at JELD-WEN Field on sale

Tickets for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader at JELD-WEN Field on Tuesday, July 9, are on sale. Starting at $25, tickets, which allow entry into both matches, are available for purchase through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.JELD-WENField.com . The Gold Cup doubleheader at JELD-WEN Field will feature Group C matches between Costa Rica and Cuba at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), and Belize against the United States at 8 p.m. (Pacific).

The U.S. National Team will make its third visit, and first since 1998, to JELD-WEN Field for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. National Team defeated Kuwait 2-0 in a friendly at then-called Civic Stadium on May 24, 1998. The United States also played host to Costa Rica in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Civic Stadium on Sept. 7, 1997, which the United States won 1-0 on a goal by Tab Ramos. Click here for more on the Gold Cup coming to JELD-WEN Field.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

This week's episode of "Timbers in 30" will air Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12. Friday's show features head coach Caleb Porter as the in-studio guest as well as a profile of midfielder Ben Zemanski.

Throughout the season, "Timbers In 30" will offer inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provided analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers coaches and players. 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 every Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. (Pacific) on flagship station 750 The Game. "Talk Timbers," provides team and league news as well as interviews with Timbers coaches and players during the season, and will also feature regular updates on Portland Thorns FC.

Fans can submit questions, provide comments or simply follow the conversation on the show on Twitter with the hashtag #TalkTimbers.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com . Available podcasts can be downloaded at www.portlandtimbers.com/timbers-podcast-network .


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