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 Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

April 25, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers visit Sporting KC on five-game unbeaten streak

PORTLAND, Ore. - On a five-match unbeaten streak, the Portland Timbers travel to the Midwest to face Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Saturday in Kansas City, Kan., at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific).

The match at Sporting Park will be televised live locally on KPDX and in Spanish on EstrellaTV, with radio broadcasts available on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

The Timbers (2-1-4, 10pts) extended their current unbeaten streak to five matches, which ties the club's MLS record for longest unbeaten streak, with a 1-1 road draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 21. Midfielder Diego Valeri scored for the Timbers against San Jose, tallying the club's league-best 10th second-half goal of the season. Portland is the only MLS club without a road loss this season and currently owns the league's longest road unbeaten stretch at three matches.

Portland currently ranks among the league leaders in goals (11), assists (8) and shots (90), and leads the league in second-half goal-scoring. The Timbers' backline has allowed just one goal in the last three games and recently recorded a 312-minute shutout streak, which is the second-longest shutout streak in the league this season. The club's defense also ranks among league leaders in fewest shots allowed (69) and has conceded just three second-half goals, which is tied for the second-fewest in MLS.

The Timbers and Sporting KC meet Saturday for the only time during the 2013 regular season. The Timbers earned a 1-0 win in their last meeting April 21, 2012, at JELD-WEN Field, capitalizing on an own goal in the victory and ending Sporting KC's seven-match winning streak to open the 2012 campaign. With two wins over the Timbers during the 2011 season, Sporting KC owns a 2-1-0 record against Portland in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs.

After a pair of road matches last week against the New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy, Eastern Conference leader Sporting KC (4-2-2, 14pts) returns home, where they are unbeaten in three games and have yet to allow a goal at Sporting Park in 2013. Sporting KC has recorded one of the longest shutout streaks in MLS history already this season, going 546 minutes without allowing a goal. Their streak came to an end in a 2-0 loss on April 20 against the Galaxy. Like the Timbers, Sporting KC boasts one of the league's best second-half defenses, conceding just one second-half goal this season.

TEAM NEWS

Fans are invited to join Saturday's official viewing party at Portland's Ringlers

With the Timbers on the road, fans are invited to watch the match against Sporting KC at the club's official viewing party at Ringlers Pub, presented by ROOT SPORTS, at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The viewing party at Ringlers is open to fans of all ages and will be kid-friendly, with several giveaways and a free face painter.

Ringlers, located at 1332 W. Burnside in Portland, will have live music leading up to the match. Among the activities, fans can enter to win autographed Timbers gear and meet mascot Timber Joey.

Click here to view a full list of the Timbers' pub partners.

Timbers players to participate in third-annual Camp Fire Celebrity+Youth Talent Show Friday

Players David Horst, Jake Gleeson and Ryan Kawulok will headline the Timbers celebrity team, along with mascot Timber Joey and Community Ambassador Scot Thompson, at the third-annual Camp Fire Columbia Celebrity+Youth Talent Show on Friday evening at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland.

The fundraising event, created to showcase the importance of holistically educating community youth, features more than 50 youth going head-to-head with celebrities from across the community. The Timbers are one of the returning celebrity teams participating in the talent show, which will feature a variety of acts, including singing, choreographed hip-hop dancing and poetry.

The show begins at 6:30 p.m.; click here for ticket information and additional details on the event.

All event proceeds will benefit more than 1,500 youth in Camp Fire's school year programs in 19 schools across the Portland metro area.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts nominated for MLS Save of the Week for Week 8

For the third time in eight weeks, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has been nominated for MLS Save of the Week, with his first-half save against Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski last weekend. Click here to view the five nominees and cast a vote; the poll closes Thursday night.

Ricketts is a two-time winner of the MLS Save of the Week in 2013, receiving the honor in Weeks 2 and 5, and, in total, has had four different saves nominated this season.

Additionally, defender Futty Danso was recognized for his performance in the Timbers' road draw at San Jose last weekend, being named an honorable mention on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week.

Timbers, MLS WORKS help beautify Hosford Middle School on Earth Day

On Monday, a bright shining Earth Day in Portland, representatives from MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Timbers visited Portland's Hosford Elementary School to finish and celebrate the school's new beautification project as part of MLS WORKS Greener Goals initiative.

Timbers players Jack Jewsbury, Ryan Kawulok, Darlington Nagbe, Jake Gleeson, Brent Richards, Sebastián RincÃ"n and Sal Zizzo, along with Timber Joey, all worked alongside students to help plant trees and put the finishing touches on the school's new improvements, which included the installation of a new solar panel. Click here to learn more about the day's events and the overall project at Hosford.

MLS WORKS Greener Goals identifies ways to reduce our carbon footprint and helps raise awareness for environmental issues throughout the soccer community. The greening of our game will encourage MLS clubs, players, corporate partners and fans to create a cleaner, healthier environment.

Timbers to play host to Mexico's Monarcas Morelia in friendly July 3

The Timbers will play host to Mexican first-division club Monarcas Morelia in an international friendly Wednesday, July 3, at JELD-WEN Field at 8 p.m. (Pacific) in the Timbers' inaugural "Copa Verde."

In "Copa Verde" (Green Cup), the Timbers have established a new annual friendly competition in which the club will face a first-division side from Mexico. Copa Verde signifies the sustainability of the Timbers' local outreach programs and initiatives through "Somos Timbers," an outreach platform focused on Hispanic youth development, education and health in the greater-Portland area. A portion of the proceeds from Copa Verde benefit the Mexican Consulate of Portland's IME Becas program and scholarships. Click here for more on Monarcas and about Copa Verde.

Tickets, starting at $15, go on sale to the public Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Timbers team up with Make-A-Wish Oregon to grant special wish

The Timbers are teaming up with Make-A-Wish© Oregon to grant the wish of a local child. Select Timbers players and coaches will participate in a friendly against eight-year-old Atticus and his soccer team, The Green Machine, on Wednesday, May 1, at 11:30 a.m. (Pacific) at JELD-WEN Field.

Atticus learned he had cancer last fall when he started to feel pain while playing soccer and missed his last game of the season. When he had the chance to make a wish, he chose to scrimmage the Timbers. Atticus and his teammates will take on some of his favorite Timbers players, including Darlington Nagbe, Will Johnson, Jack Jewsbury and Mikael Silvestre, at JELD-WEN Field. Timbers head coach Caleb Porter and assistant coach Sean McAuley will coach the teams.

Fans are welcome to attend the match and admission is free; doors open at 11:15 a.m. The first 100 fans will receive a commemorative scarf and free pizza from Papa Murphy's; click here for additional details.

Timbers U-23s add four more players; Timbers Academy teams head out on the road

The Timbers U-23s today announced four additional roster players for the upcoming Premier Development League season - forwards Mark Sherrod and Zack Foxhoven and midfielders Eric Miller and Reinaldo Brenes. Click here for more on each of the four players.

With just four league games remaining, the Timbers Academy teams visit the Washington Crossfire Premier on Saturday at Redmond High School in Redmond, Wash. The U-18 sides kickoff at 2 p.m., while the U-16 teams square off at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). The Timbers U-16 Academy is on a 10-game unbeaten streak, while the Timbers U-18s are unbeaten in their last three matches.

Want to take a Timbers player to school?

Fans can enter to win the opportunity to take a Timbers player to school, presented by The UPS Store. Visit any local The UPS Store to register today and, while there, pick up a 2013 schedule poster. For more information on the contest, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/theupsstore .

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 .

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

This week's episode of "Timbers in 30" will air Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12, featuring Portland Thorns FC and U.S. Women's National Team striker Alex Morgan as the in-studio guest.

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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