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Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

June 6, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers visit Chicago Fire Saturday on 11-game unbeaten streak

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers return to league play Saturday as they visit the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The Timbers enter the weekend on an 11-match unbeaten run in league play and are unbeaten on the road in 2013.

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

Portland (5-1-7, 22pts) enters the week in third place in the Western Conference, six points back of conference-leader FC Dallas and two points behind second-place Real Salt Lake. The Timbers are tied for second in MLS with 22 goals scored on the season, and have allowed only three goals over their last five matches.

The Timbers are the only club in MLS that is unbeaten away from home and is tied with the Philadelphia Union with a league-best 12 goals scored on the road.

Portland will be without the services of four players - defender Futty Danso (The Gambia), forward Ryan Johnson (Jamaica), goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (Jamaica) and midfielder Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) - for Saturday's fixture against Chicago due to international call-ups for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Timbers captured a 2-0 road victory over D.C. United in their last regular-season match on May 25. Rodney Wallace and Darlington Nagbe provided the scoring as the club recorded its fifth shutout to capture its second road win of the season.

The Timbers concluded the month of May with a 5-1 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL PRO in the third round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 29 at JELD-WEN Field. Forward Frederic Piquionne scored four goals in the first half to become just the second player in the modern era (1995-current) of the tournament to record four goals in one half of a U.S. Open Cup match.

The Timbers make their second visit to Toyota Park to play the Fire (3-7-2, 11pts) since joining MLS in 2011. The two clubs have met just three times in the all-time MLS series, with the Timbers earning victories in all three matchups. Portland claimed a 1-0 win against Chicago in the first meeting at Toyota Park on July 16, 2011; Jack Jewsbury scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick. The Timbers earned a 2-1 win in their last matchup on May 20, 2012 at JELD-WEN Field. Saturday's match is the only regular-season meeting between the two clubs in 2013.

The Fire are coming off back-to-back, 2-0 wins over D.C. United on June 2 at home and against the Charlotte Eagles of USL PRO in the third round of U.S. Open Cup on May 29. The win over United marked the club's third shutout of the season. Chicago, unbeaten in its last two league games, recently acquired forward Mike Magee in a trade from the LA Galaxy. Magee, a Chicago native, ranks among the league's leading goal-scorers with seven goals on the campaign.

TEAM NEWS

Join the Timbers viewing party Saturday at Marathon Taverna

Fans are invited to join the Timbers official viewing party Saturday at Marathon Taverna in Portland, presented by ROOT SPORTS, to watch the Timbers play the Chicago Fire at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The viewing party is open to fans ages 21 and over, and food and drink specials will be offered throughout the match.

Fans at Marathon Taverna, located at 1735 W. Burnside St. near JELD-WEN Field, will have the opportunity to play Budweiser Pool Ball and enter to win autographed items or special prizes, including a ROOT SPORTS gift basket. Eligible season ticket holders can earn Rose City Rewards points by attending the viewing party.

Four Timbers players away on national team duty for World Cup qualifiers

Timbers players Futty Danso (The Gambia), Ryan Johnson (Jamaica), Donovan Ricketts (Jamaica) and Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) have all departed for international duty with their respective national teams for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers June 4-18.

Johnson and Ricketts each started for the Jamaica National Team in a 1-0 loss to Mexico on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz will play host to the United States on Friday at Independence Park in Kingston at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) in a match televised on beIN SPORT. Jamaica then concludes this round of qualifiers Tuesday, June 11, against Honduras at Estadio Tiburcio CarÃ-as Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, at 6 p.m. (Pacific).

Danso joined The Gambia National Team on Tuesday for a pair of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Scorpions play host to the Ivory Coast on Saturday at Independence Stadium in Bakau, The Gambia. The team then visits Morocco on Saturday, June 15, at Stade de Marrakech in Marrakech, Morocco.

Wallace and Costa Rica face three World Cup qualifiers from June 7-18. Costa Rica plays host to Honduras on Friday at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José at 7 p.m. (Pacific). The Ticos then take on Mexico on the road June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 5 p.m. (Pacific), before returning home to play host to Panama on Tuesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers play host to Tampa Bay Rowdies in fourth round of U.S. Open Cup June 12

The Timbers play host to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the fourth round of the 2013 U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 12, at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Tickets, starting at $15, are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com .

The Timbers defeated Wilmington in the third round to advance to their fourth-round matchup against the Rowdies. Tampa Bay eliminated Seattle Sounders FC from the tournament with 1-0 victory in the third round.

The 2013 U.S. Open Cup started with 68 teams, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). The tournament includes clubs, both professional and amateur, from across the U.S. soccer landscape; all Division I, II and III clubs affiliated with U.S. Soccer participate in the tournament proper. The U.S. Open Cup, a single-elimination tournament, has crowned a champion for 99 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Click here for more on the U.S. Open Cup.

Timbers to play host to Mexico's Monarcas Morelia, EPL's Norwich City FC in summer friendlies

The Timbers will play host to Mexican first-division club Monarcas Morelia on Wednesday, July 3 and English Premier League side Norwich City FC on Wednesday, July 24, in summer friendlies at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff for both matches is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific).

Single-game tickets for both matches start at $15 and are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com . Group tickets are also available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com .

The exhibition against Monarcas will mark the Timbers' inaugural "Copa Verde." Click here for more on Monarcas and about Copa Verde.

Timbers Academy teams wrap up inaugural U.S. Soccer Development Academy season

The Portland Timbers Academy teams recently wrapped up their inaugural seasons in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

The Timbers U-18 Academy finished the season with a record of 10-12-6 (36pts). The Timbers U-18s placed sixth in the Northwest Division for their age group. Forward Christian Desir and midfielder James Nosack each finished the season with a team-best 11 goals.

The Timbers U-16 Academy finished the campaign with a record of 12-8-8 (44pts) and in fourth place in the Northwest Division for their age group, and just missed qualifying for a wildcard position in the postseason. Midfielders Jacob Kempf and Alex Segovia led the team in scoring with eight and six goals, respectively, as the Timbers U-16s scored 51 goals on the season (28 games), which was the third-highest goals total in the division.

Timbers, Thorns FC launch new online auction site to benefit Stand Together

The Timbers and Portland Thorns FC have launched a new online auction website, featuring autographed memorabilia, game-worn gear and one-of-a-kind game-day experiences, with proceeds benefitting the clubs' community outreach platform Stand Together and the Portland Timbers Community Fund. Click here to view the items currently up for bid.

Stand Together supports local nonprofit organizations focusing on youth programs related to sport, education, fitness and the environment. The Stand Together mission is to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving and is supported in part by adidas, Alaska Airlines, JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, Burgerville, and PGE.

Tickets for CONCACAF Gold Cup on sale

Tickets for the for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage doubleheader, featuring the United States, Belize, Costa Rica and Cuba men's national teams, on Tuesday, July 9, at JELD-WEN Field are on sale.

Gold Cup tickets, which will allow entry into both matches, start at $25 and are currently on sale through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.JELD-WENField.com .

The Group C matchups at JELD-WEN Field will pit Costa Rica and Cuba at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), and Belize against the United States at 8 p.m. (Pacific) at the historic, downtown Portland venue. Click here for more on the Gold Cup games at JELD-WEN Field.

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, and will feature forward Frederic Piquionne 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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