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 Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

March 14, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers face Seattle Sounders FC in first Cascadia Cup match of 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers travel north for the first of three regular-season meetings against Cascadia Cup-rival Seattle Sounders FC at 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday at CenturyLink Field in the Emerald City. The match, Portland's first road game of the 2013 MLS season, will be nationally broadcast on NBC Sports Network and on the radio locally at 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Marking the 80th all-time meeting between the two Pacific Northwest squads dating back to the 1975 North American Soccer League season, Saturday's match features both teams looking for their first win of the 2013 season. Seattle, which was forced to balance the beginning of its regular-season schedule around two quarterfinal legs of the CONCACAF Champions League, lost its MLS season opener 1-0 against the Montreal Impact on March 2 at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC recently defeated Mexican side Tigres 3-1 (3-2 on aggregate) to advance to April's semifinal round of CONCACAF Champions League.

The Timbers enter Saturday's match following a hard-fought 2-1 loss against Montreal. For the second straight game, Portland conceded the lead and had to play catch up, scoring in the 80th minute to trim the Impact's lead to one goal. The Timbers couldn't complete the comeback, however, as Montreal held on for the win in front of 20,674 at a sold-out JELD-WEN Field.

Since joining MLS in 2011, the Timbers are 1-2-2 overall against Seattle, including 0-1-1 at CenturyLink Field; Portland has earned a record of 28-41-10 all-time against Sounders FC.

Timbers forward Ryan Johnson recorded his first career goal as a member of the club against Montreal and midfielder Ben Zemanski, who entered as a halftime substitute, made his first appearance and registered his first career assist with the Timbers on March 9.

TEAM NEWS

JELD-WEN Field set to host U.S. National Team in CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage

JELD-WEN Field will play host to a 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage doubleheader, featuring the United States, Belize, Costa Rica and Cuba national teams, on Tuesday, July 9. The announcement was made by CONCACAF Wednesday as the confederation announced the groups and complete schedule for the upcoming biennial tournament.

The Group C matchups at JELD-WEN Field will match up Costa Rica and Cuba at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), followed by Belize against the United States at 8 p.m. (Pacific) at the historic, downtown Portland venue. 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 United States 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 U.S. won 1-0 on a goal by current U-20 National Team head coach Tab Ramos.

The Gold Cup has established itself as the region's most popular national team tournament, routinely drawing capacity crowds and millions of viewers across the region. Featuring the best players from the confederation, the tournament includes the top 12 nations in the region.

Tickets, which will allow entry into both matches, start at $25 and go on sale to the public Thursday, March 21, at 10 a.m. (Pacific) through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.JELD-WENField.com .

Ricketts receives two nominations for Save of the Week

Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made two highlight-reel saves Saturday evening against the Montreal Impact, garnering a pair of nominations for MLS Save of the Week.

The first of Ricketts' saves came in the 11th minute after a cross found the head of unmarked Impact forward Marco Di Vaio right in front of the goal. Ricketts dove to his left to make the save and keep the Impact off the board.

The second nomination was a spectacular double-save in the 87th minute. Impact midfielder Andrés Romero dribbled in the box near the endline and his tight-angle shot was blocked by Ricketts. The ensuing rebound bounced to Impact midfielder Collen Warner and forced Ricketts into a diving save before Timbers captain Will Johnson cleared away the ball.

Nagbe receives Honorable Mention for MLS Team of the Week

Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe earned an honorable mention for MLS Team of the Week for his play in Saturday's match against Montreal. This is the second straight week Nagbe has received earned a spot on the league's Team of the Week list, following an appearance on the MLS Team of the Week for Week 1 after scoring a goal in a 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls.

Nagbe played all 90 minutes in the Timbers 2-1 loss against the Impact, tallying three shots, including one on goal. To see the entire Team of the Week, click here .

Join the first Timbers viewing party of 2013 at Paddy's Bar and Grill

Fans are invited to join the Timbers' viewing party Saturday, March 16, at 5 p.m. at Paddy's Bar and Grill, presented by ROOTS SPORTS. Paddy's Bar and Grill will be holding a St. Patrick's Day festival all weekend, including all day Saturday. Fans that arrive wearing Timbers gear can get into Saturday's viewing party free of charge from 4-6 p.m.

The match will be aired live on NBC Sports Network on all televisions including a 12-foot projector outside in Paddy's St. Patrick's Day festival tents. Fans can also enter to win autographed Timbers gear and meet Timber Joey.

Portland Timbers look to "˜Spread the Love'

The Portland Timbers launched their "Spread the Love" campaign last week where fans can nominate deserving individuals to win free Timbers tickets throughout the season. Fans can submit posts to the campaign's Facebook page along with why they believe the person they're nominating should receive a free pair of tickets to an upcoming Timbers match. Fans can also show their friends that they have "Spread the Love" by clicking on the Spread the Love badge to add to their Facebook home page. For more information, visit SpreadtheLovePTFC.com

Timbers Reserves set to play Seattle Sounders Reserves this Sunday

The Portland Timbers Reserves will kick off their Reserve League schedule Sunday when they play the Seattle Sounders FC reserves at 5 p.m. at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The game will be the first of 14 scheduled reserve league matches this season.

The Timbers Reserves will play seven (7) home matches this season against reserve teams from Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, as well as USL side VSI Tampa Bay. The Timbers Reserves will play their first home match April 7 against VSI Tampa Bay.

Tickets to reserve matches are available at the JELD-WEN Field box office or ticketmaster.com and are $10 general admission.

2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup format announced, Timbers and Timbers U-23s to participate

U.S. Soccer last week announced the format and participants for the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup . The tournament is scheduled to begin May 7. It is the 100th year of the tournament and features several notable changes to this year's format, including an increase in participating teams as well as an increase in overall prize money.

The Timbers will enter the competition in the third round of the tournament along with 15 other U.S.-based MLS sides, and will be matched up with one of 16 winners from the second round. The third round of U.S. Open Cup play is scheduled to begin on May 28. The Timbers U-23s qualified for their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup along with 15 other Premier Development League sides, and are scheduled to begin play in the first round of the tournament on May 14.

Timbers looking for official pub partners throughout greater-Portland area

The Timbers are in search of the best local pubs in and around Portland to be official Timbers pubs for the 2013 season. Most Timbers-affiliated pubs will have a chance to host an official viewing party for an away match and all pubs will receive Timbers merchandise to use their establishment. If interested in becoming a Timbers pub partner, call (503) 553-5407 or email elamunyan@portlandtimbers.com . Click here for additional information on becoming a Timbers pub partner.

Thorns FC season ticket details for inaugural 2013 NWSL season

Portland Thorns FC have announced season ticket details for the inaugural 2013 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) campaign.

All regular-season home matches are scheduled to be played at JELD-WEN Field, with season ticket prices throughout the stadium's lower bowl set at $9 per game for general admission, $15 for touch line reserved seats and $22 for club seats.

Fans interested in purchasing Thorns FC season tickets can contact a sales representative at (503) 553-5555 or by email at ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com .

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

This week's episode of "Timbers in 30" will air Friday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12. Friday's special Cascadia Cup episode will feature in-studio guest Geoffrey C. Arnold, author of the book "Cascadia Clash: Sounders vs. Timbers." In addition, Timber Joey and members of the Timbers Army review two beers and weigh in with their tasting notes regarding Widmer Brothers' Timbers Army-themed Green & Gold Kölsch and Redhook Brewing's ECS No Equal Amber Lager.

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 AM The Game. "Talk Timbers" provides team news and interviews throughout the season as well as regular updates on Portland Thorns FC.

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

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM 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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