Nationally-televised game highlights big weekend for Timbers
August 26, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers (17-7-2, 53pts) have already clinched the top seed in the Western Conference but look to keep the momentum of an eight-game unbeaten streak alive against two possible first-round opponents, Minnesota and Milwaukee.
TIMBERS VS. MINNESOTA - Friday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m. (Pacific)
The Timbers lead the season series 2-0-1 against the Thunder, who are a likely opponent in the conference semifinals for the Timbers on Sept. 1. Portland has outscored the Thunder 6-2 through three games, accounting for nearly one-third of the goals allowed by Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren all season. Minnesota won its first road game of the year on Monday, 2-0 at Edmonton.
TIMBERS VS. MILWAUKEE - Sunday, Aug. 29, 5 p.m. (Pacific)
The Wave United come to town for the final match in the A-League regular season in what could be another preview of the Timbers' first-round pairing. Milwaukee is on the outside looking in for postseason consideration and Sunday's match could determine if it will make the cut. Portland leads the season series 2-1-0, defeating Milwaukee 3-2 in overtime at PGE Park on May 29.
TIMBERS GO NATION-WIDE
Friday's match against Minnesota will televised live across the country on FOX Sports World, beginning at 8 p.m. (Pacific). Paul Dolan will call the play-by-play and Peter Schaad will provide color commentary for the match. The Timbers defeated Charleston 2-1 in their previous appearance on FOX Sports World. The match, which has a special 8 p.m. kickoff to accommodate the broadcast, can be seen on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 401 in the Portland-metro area.
FRIDAY PROMOTION
Friday's match will feature post-game fireworks honoring Oregon Youth Soccer Association Night, an annual event to welcome Oregon's future soccer stars to PGE Park.
SUNDAY PROMOTION
Latino Heritage Night is the highlight of Sunday's match against Milwaukee, featuring live music, Mexican cuisine and a halftime soccer game between the disc jockeys of several local Hispanic radio stations.
ON THE MOVE
The Timbers' current eight-game unbeaten streak is their longest in four A-League seasons ... Portland's 17 wins is also a new high ... Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar has scored a point in six straight matches ... 16 different Timbers have tallied a point this year ... the Timbers are 8-4 at PGE Park this season ... Portland has scored 56 goals thus far, 14 more than its nearest A-League competitor.
PLAYOFF DATES SET
The Timbers will host either Seattle, Minnesota, Vancouver or Milwaukee on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at PGE Park at 7 p.m. in the first of two conference semifinal playoff matches. The second match will be played on the road on Sunday, Sept. 5. The team with the most aggregate goals after both contests will advance to the Western Conference Finals, scheduled for Sept. 10-12.
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Tickets for the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals are available for
purchase at the PGE Park box office as well as Portland-area Ticketmaster outlets.
Individual tickets may be purchased by phone at (503) 224-4400 or online at
www.ticketmaster.com
TIMBERS FELLED
Midfielder Jake Sagare, the Timbers' leader in minutes played this season, will sit out the Minnesota match for accumulating too many penalty points ... goalkeeper Josh Saunders will miss Friday's contest while serving a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules ... defender Aaron Heinzen is out for the season after having surgery to remove a piece of dead bone in his left ankle ... defender Shawn Saunders is out with a strained tendon in his left ankle.
ON THE AIR
The two matches will be aired live on KZNY AM-1010 with Andy McNamara calling the play-by-play. Arnulfo Alvarez will call the games in Spanish on KRMZ AM-1150. Both broadcasts will be carried on the Internet at OregonLive.com.
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USL First Division Stories from August 26, 2004
- Lynx Wrap Up Home Schedule In Style - Toronto Lynx
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- Impact beats Edmonton, 2-0 - Montreal Impact
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