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Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

October 2, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers begin back-to-back matches against Western Conference foe San Jose on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium

PORTLAND, Ore. - Capping a two-game road swing, the Portland Timbers travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes in an important Western Conference match with MLS Cup Playoffs implications on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Saturday's match, the first of consecutive games between the Timbers and Earthquakes in a span of five days, will be broadcast live nationally on NBC Sports Network with a local radio broadcast on 750 The Game; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific).

Portland (9-9-12, 39pts) trails Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9-8-13, 40pts) by just one point for the fifth, and final, spot to the MLS Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with four matches remaining for each team. Vancouver plays host to FC Dallas at BC Place earlier on Saturday; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific).

The Timbers enter Saturday's match with just one loss in their last five regular-season games, a 3-2 setback on Sept. 27 at Toronto FC. Against Western Conference teams, Portland is unbeaten in four consecutive matches, including a pair of 3-0 wins over Vancouver (Aug. 30, Sept. 20) and a 3-3 draw against San Jose on Sept. 7 at Providence Park.

Offensively, Portland matched the team's MLS single-season record for goals (54) last weekend against Toronto FC and are currently the only team in the league with five players who have tallied six or more goals. Forwards Fanendo Adi and Maximiliano Urruti and midfielder Diego Valeri are tied for the team lead with nine goals, all one shy of matching the Timbers MLS single-season record (10), set by Valeri in 2013. Additionally, Adi has netted a goal in three consecutive games across all competitions, recording a brace against Vancouver on Sept. 20, scoring in CONCACAF Champions League play against Alpha United FC of Guyana on Sept. 23 and tallying Portland's second goal against Toronto FC.

Despite the setback last weekend, the Timbers have performed well on the road in 2014, earning the fourth-best road winning percentage in the league with a 5-6-4 record. Only two teams have registered more road wins than the Timbers this year, while Portland is currently unbeaten in consecutive road games against Western Conference opposition.

Saturday's match marks the 10th all-time meeting in MLS regular-season play between the Timbers and Earthquakes and Portland's first - and only - regular-season trip to Buck Shaw Stadium in 2014. Dating back to the North American Soccer League (NASL), the two sides have a long history of competition. Saturday's game will be the 31st all-time meeting between the two clubs in all competitions and across all eras since 1975. The Timbers have compiled a 14-10-6 overall record against the Earthquakes, including a mark of 2-1-6 in MLS. In their first meeting of 2014, the Timbers attempted an MLS club-record 32 shots and overcame a two-goal deficit for a 3-3 draw at Providence Park on Sept. 7. Matches between the two Western Conference foes have always been close during the MLS era with neither team earning more than a one-goal margin of victory in nine all-time games since 2011.

The Earthquakes (6-12-11, 29pts) enter Saturday's match on a 10-game winless streak in regular-season play, dating back to Aug. 8. Compiling a 0-4-6 record during the stretch, head coach Mark Watson's side has been able to register a pair of draws against MLS Supporters' Shield challengers LA Galaxy as well as draws against Real Salt Lake and Portland. Forward Chris Wondolowski - the 2012 MLS Golden Boot winner - leads the team with 13 goals while midfielder Shea Salinas has added a team-high eight assists. Goalkeeper Jon Busch leads the league in saves (117), while also ranking fifth in save percentage (71.5 percent) and in the top 10 in goals-against average (1.45).

Following Saturday's match, the two teams face a quick turnaround as Portland plays host to San Jose on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Wednesday's match will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750 The Game.

TEAM NEWS

Join the Timbers official viewing party Saturday at Clive's Public House at Rose City Futsal

Fans are invited to attend the club's official viewing party to watch Saturday's Western Conference matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes at Clive's Public House at Rose City Futsal (5010 NE Oregon St.) in Northeast Portland; kickoff for the game is 8 p.m. (Pacific). There, you can watch the match with other Timbers supporters and Timber Joey, enter to win prizes and earn Rose City Rewards points. Saturday's viewing party is open to fans of all ages.

There are more than 20 official Timbers pub partners across the greater-Portland area. Click here for a full list of Timbers Pub Partners.

Timbers Academy midfielder Adrian Villegas named U.S. Soccer's Academy Player of the Week

Timbers U-16 Academy midfielder Adrian Villegas was named the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 27-28 after logging 60 minutes of action and recording two assists for the Timbers in their match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16s at the adidas Timbers Training Center in Beaverton.

The Timbers U-18 and U-16 teams both squared off against the Whitecaps FC U-18 and U-16 sides last weekend. Click here to read more.

The Timbers Academy is back in action this weekend, taking their first road trip of the season to face off against the San Juan Soccer Club at Mather Soccer Complex in suburban Sacramento. The U-18s are set to kick off at 9 a.m. (Pacific) on Sunday and the U-16s are scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Timbers on Campus: Timbers Academy alum Foster Langsdorf nets first career goal for Stanford

The NCAA men's soccer season continues to roll along and several Timbers Academy alumni are gaining valuable minutes with their respective collegiate programs.

Stanford freshman Foster Langsdorf, a starter for Timbers U-18s during the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, came off the bench for the No. 19-ranked Cardinal, logging his first career minutes and netting his first goal in a 3-0 win over Gonzaga on Sept. 26.

Timbers travel to Honduras for final CONCACAF Champions League group match Oct. 21

The Timbers moved into sole possession of first place in CONCACAF Champions League Group 5 with an impressive 6-0 shutout against Alpha United FC of Guyana at Providence Park on Sept. 23. Finishing off group play, Portland (3-0-0, 9pts) travels to Honduras to face off against C.D. Olimpia (2-1-0, 6pts) on Oct. 21 at Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

The final group match will determine if the Timbers advance to the knockout rounds of the tournament, as a win or draw will see them through. Portland can also advance with a loss provided that C.D. Olimpia does not make up Portland's two-goal lead in head-to-head goal differential. If the match finishes tied on head-to-head goal differential, the team with the most away goals scored in the head-to-head series will be the next tiebreaker. C.D. Olimpia leads on away goals (2-0), as the result of Portland's 4-2 win on Sept. 16 at Providence Park.

Timbers recognized by Portland Business Journal with Corporate Philanthropy Award

The Timbers have been recognized by the Portland Business Journal's 2014 Corporate Philanthropy Awards in the Medium Company category, it was announced recently.

Among 24 medium-sized companies, the Timbers were ranked among the top ten in this category and were recognized for their financial contributions through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF) and to various local nonprofit organizations and volunteer work through the club's community outreach platform, Stand Together.

The club, which has won multiple Corporate Philanthropy Awards from the Portland Business Journal, contributed more than $525,000 in cash and in-kind donations in 2013, while the organization has committed thousands of volunteer hours and more than 2,000 hours during Stand Together Week. Stand Together Week encourages a culture of giving back throughout the city, raising visibility of important nonprofit organizations and making a difference in the community.

Show your support for the team on the road using the hashtag #TimbersAway

For all Timbers regular-season away games, fans will have the opportunity to submit photos of how they are watching the Timbers road games using the hashtag #TimbersAway. Post photos of your road trip, your family gathering, your outing at the official Timbers viewing party and more on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #TimbersAway.

After each match, one lucky fan will receive 12,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Plus, at the end of the season, one fan will receive MVP Gold status by receiving the total number of miles the team traveled during the regular season. The more #TimbersAway entries you produce, the better your chances of winning.

Be part of the 2014 KeyBank LTFC

All Timbers and Thorns FC fans 12-years-old or younger are encouraged to be part of the 2014 KeyBank LTFC. A $25 membership gets you an exclusive 2014 KeyBank LTFC Timbers/Thorns scarf, two free Thorns FC flex tickets, an invitation to exclusive KeyBank LTFC team training and autograph session and other great benefits.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

Throughout the season, "Timbers in 30" offers inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provides analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers coaches and players. Previously aired shows and "Timbers in 30" features can be found at www.timbers.com.

"Timbers in 30" airs Fridays at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12.

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs every Wednesday 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.timbers.com/timbers-podcast-network.

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