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Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

October 7, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers play host to San Jose Earthquakes in pivotal midweek match Wednesday at Providence Park

PORTLAND, Ore. - Wednesday's match between the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park marks the second consecutive meeting between the two teams in a span of five days. The game, presented by FLIR, holds important MLS Cup Playoffs implications for the Timbers, as Portland enters the game just one point behind Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the fifth, and final, postseason berth in the Western Conference.

The Timbers (10-9-12, 42pts) earned a come-from-behind, 2-1 win against the Earthquakes on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Midfielder Rodney Wallace tallied a brace with goals in the 71st and 74th minutes to guide Portland to its first road win against San Jose in four MLS seasons. The road win, Portland's sixth of the season, helped the Timbers keep pressure on Vancouver (10-8-13, 43pts) for the final Western Conference bid to the MLS Cup Playoffs with just three matches remaining on the regular-season schedule.

Whitecaps FC travel to face Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC on Friday night in a crucial match for both sides as Vancouver is battling Portland for a postseason berth and Seattle is looking to capture the MLS Supporters' Shield.

Unbeaten in four consecutive matches against Western Conference opponents (2-0-2), Portland has compiled a 1-0-1 record against the Earthquakes in 2014. Wednesday's match marks the 11th all-time meeting in regular-season play between the Timbers and Earthquakes. Dating back to the North American Soccer League (NASL), the two sides have a long history of competition. Wednesday's game will be the 32nd all-time meeting between the two clubs in all competitions and across all eras since 1975. The Timbers have compiled a 15-10-6 overall record against the Earthquakes, including a mark of 3-1-6 in MLS. In their last meeting at Providence Park on Sept. 7, the Timbers attempted an MLS club-record 32 shots and overcame a two-goal deficit for a 3-3 draw. 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 10 all-time games since 2011.

Playing without midfield playmaker Diego Valeri on Saturday due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for caution accumulation, the Timbers set an MLS-club, single-season record in goals (56), surpassing the previous mark (54) set during an impressive 2013 campaign. Portland's high-powered offensive attack ranks third in MLS in goals behind only the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC, while the Timbers also have notched two or more goals in seven consecutive league games (eight matches in all competitions). Portland has tallied a league-leading 32 goals in the final 30 minutes of matches this season, helping contribute to an MLS-best record of 5-6-9 (.475) when conceding the first goal.

Individually, Valeri and forwards Fanendo Adi and Maximiliano Urruti are tied for the team lead with nine goals. All three players are one goal shy of tying the Timbers MLS single-season record in goals (10), set by Valeri in 2013.

San Jose (6-13-11, 29pts) enters Wednesday's match on an 11-game winless streak dating back to Aug. 8. Forward Chris Wondolowski - the 2012 MLS Golden Boot winner - leads the team with 14 goals, but will miss Wednesday's match after being called up to the U.S. National Team on Tuesday ahead of international friendly matches against Ecuador on Friday and Honduras on Oct. 14. San Jose also will be without the services of defender Victor Bernardez (Honduras), midfielder Cordell Cato (Trinidad & Tobago) and midfielder Atiba Harris (St. Kitts and Nevis) on Wednesday due to international duty and defender Pablo Pintos, who is serving a suspension following a red card on Saturday.

Following Wednesday's match, the Timbers have the weekend off before playing host to Real Salt Lake in the regular-season home finale at Providence Park on Oct. 17; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

TEAM NEWS

Special Olympics Oregon Fall State Games return with help from Providence, the Timbers

After a six-year hiatus, the Special Olympics Oregon Fall State Games returns on Nov. 15-16 thanks in part to generous help from Providence Health & Services and the Portland Timbers. Providence Park will serve as Games headquarters and the main venue for the two-day soccer competition. Volleyball and aquatics will be held nearby at Lincoln High School and Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation facilities.

Over the two days of competition, nearly 600 athletes, 200 coaches and hundreds of volunteers from across the state of Oregon will have the opportunity to compete and have a true "stadium" experience at the home of the Timbers and Thorns FC.

Midfielder Rodney Wallace named to MLS Team of the Week

Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace was named to the MLS Team of the Week for Week 30 of the MLS regular season following a two-goal performance on Saturday in a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Wallace netted the game-tying goal for Portland in the 71st minute and notched the game-winning goal just three minutes later, redirecting a header from defender Liam Ridgewell into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Development Update: Timbers Academy teams earn wins over the weekend

The Timbers Academy teams hit the road for their first away games of the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season on Sunday and each returned with a shutout as the Timbers U-18s tallied a 1-0 win and the Timbers U-16s earned an impressive 5-0 win over teams from the San Juan Soccer Club in suburban Sacramento, Calif.

Jacob Kempf (Camas, Wash.) tallied the lone goal for the Timbers U-18s (1-2-1, 4pts) in a 1-0 win over the San Juan Soccer Club U-18s, scoring the game-winning goal off an assist from Reid Baez (Salem, Ore.) in the 68th minute.

The Timbers U-16s (1-2-1, 4pts) benefited as Jose Perez (McMinnville, Ore.) netted a brace with goals in each half for a 5-0 win over the San Juan Soccer Club U-16s. Perez leads the team with four goals and has registered a brace in consecutive matches. Joe Corner (Salem, Ore.) netted his third goal of the season for the Timbers, capping the scoring in the 75th minute. Blake Bodily (Eagle, Idaho) and Carlos Anguiano (Salem, Ore.) each scored their first goals for the U-16s in the match.

Defender Alvas Powell named to Jamaica National Team roster for international friendly

Timbers defender Alvas Powell has been named to the Jamaica National Team roster for an international friendly against Japan on Friday.

The Reggae Boyz square off against Japan in an international friendly on Friday, Oct. 10, at Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata, Japan; kickoff is set for 7:25 p.m. local time (3:25 a.m. Pacific). Squaring off for the first time in nearly 12 years, Jamaica has compiled a 1-1-1 overall record against Japan, including a victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France where Jamaica earned a 2-1 win to become the smallest nation ever to win a World Cup match. The two sides last met in 2002, playing to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Tokyo.

Nong's Khao Man Gai to be featured food cart Wednesday at Providence Park

As part of the match-day experience at Providence Park, fans can enjoy food from four of Portland's most popular food carts through the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA). Featured on Wednesday at Providence Park will be Nong's Khao Man Gai.

Founded in 2012, the PTFCA is a program designed to highlight the Rose City's vibrant food-cart culture. In addition to Nong's Khao Man Gai, Big-Ass Sandwiches, 808 Grinds and Stumptown Dumplings also will be featured at Providence Park in 2014 at both Timbers and Portland Thorns FC home games. To learn more about PTFCA, visit www.timbers.com/ptfca-members.

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.

Timbers, AC Portland host 50/50 raffle, fundraiser at all home matches

During the 2014 season, the Timbers and AC Portland have teamed with Pointstreak 5050 to once again bring the 50/50 raffle to fans at Providence Park.

At all Timbers and Thorns FC home games, fans will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets from the time gates open until the 60th minute, and jackpot totals will be displayed in real time on the scoreboard and at the AC Portland 50/50 kiosk located near Gate 4. One winning ticket will be selected and announced at the 70th minute of the match, with the winner taking home half of the event's net proceeds. The remaining proceeds benefit AC Portland and the Portland Timbers Community Fund.

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. Due to Wednesday's match, there will be no show this week. "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.

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