MLS Portland Timbers

Playoff-Bound Timbers Remain in First Place in the West, Draw Real Lake

October 20, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers recorded a fifth straight shutout at home in a hard-fought scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in a matchup between the top two clubs in the Western Conference before a sellout crowd of 20,674 at JELD-WEN Field on Saturday night.

The Timbers (13-5-15, 54pts), who clinched their first MLS postseason berth earlier in the day, remain in first place in the Western Conference and moved to within a point of Sporting Kansas City for the lead in a tight Supporters' Shield chase. Real Salt Lake (15-10-8, 53pts) remains in second place in the Western Conference.

The draw extends the Timbers' current overall unbeaten run to seven games, and helps the club end its regular-season home schedule with a 15-game unbeaten streak at JELD-WEN Field. The club finished with an 11-1-5 record at home during the regular season, with its only loss coming on March 9; the Timbers' home record during the regular season ranks as one of the best in MLS history.

In its regular-season home finale, Portland held the league's top-scoring team in Real Salt Lake without a shot on goal, extending its current home shutout streak to 450 consecutive minutes.

The clean sheet was the 14th of the season for the Timbers, tied for fifth-most in MLS history for shutouts in a single season. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was credited with his 13th clean sheet of the season, which is tied for the league lead and a new career-high. Portland's 11 goals conceded at home during the regular-season are the second-fewest in MLS.

Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando made four crucial saves in the second half, three of which came in the 90th minute or later, to keep the Timbers from finding the lead. A ball played in to the box was flicked on by Timbers sub Frederic Piquionne towards the top right corner in the 90th minute, but Rimando was there to pull the ball down. Rimando made a pair of saves four minutes into second-half stoppage time, with the first coming on a free kick from just outside the box by Portland's Will Johnson. Sal Zizzo's follow-up header was palmed away by Rimando on a quick reaction save.

In the 65th minute, a cross from defender Jack Jewsbury from the right side skipped through the middle of the box before working its way to an open Kalif Alhassan on the back side. Alhassan's shot from close range was knocked down by Rimando, and the goalkeeper was able to gain control of the ball.

The Timbers conclude their regular-season schedule Saturday, Oct. 26, on the road against Chivas USA at the StubHub Center at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS, with radio broadcasts available on FM News 101 KXL and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

Notes:

* Portland sits in first place in the Western Conference with a one-point lead over Real Salt Lake, and the Timbers are currently one point back of Sporting KC in a tight race for the Supporters' Shield.

* The Timbers and Real Salt Lake met for the fourth time this season across all competitions.

* With the draw against Real Salt Lake, the Timbers extended their current unbeaten run to seven games, which is the longest, active unbeaten streak in the league. In the last seven games, the Timbers have out-scored opponents 10-3 and recorded five shutouts.

* The Timbers have recorded two of the top-five longest unbeaten streaks during the 2013 season. They logged a league-best, 15-game unbeaten streak from March 16-June 23, and the club's current seven-game streak is tied for fifth longest this season.

* The Timbers are unbeaten in 17 straight conference games at JELD-WEN Field (11-0-6) dating back to 2012, including a 9-0-3 mark in 2013. The club's last home loss to a conference opponent was July 28, 2012.

* The Timbers are 5-2-5 during the 2013 regular-season against teams currently ranked in the top-five in the Western Conference standings.

* Portland wrapped up its 2013 regular-season home schedule on a 15-game unbeaten streak, which is tied with San Jose for the longest, home unbeaten streak in the league this season.

* The Timbers posted an 11-1-5 record at JELD-WEN Field during the regular season, one of the best, single-season home records in MLS history. The club's only loss at home during the regular season was March 9 against the Montreal Impact.

* Portland recorded 29 goals at home during the regular season, which ranks among Western Conference leaders. Portland's 11 goals conceded at home in the regular season are second-fewest in the league; the Timbers had a 0.65 goals-against average at JELD-WEN Field.

* The Timbers recorded their 14th shutout of the season in the scoreless draw against RSL, which is tied for fifth-most in MLS history for shutouts in a single season. It was their 11 shutout at home, which leads MLS.

* Portland held Real Salt Lake, the league's top goal-scoring club, without a shot on goal. It was the first time in the Timbers MLS history in which they held an opponent without a shot on goal.

* The clean sheet was the fifth consecutive shutout at home for the Timbers and the club has not allowed a goal at JELD-WEN Field in the last 450 minutes of league play, the club's second-longest home shutout streak this season. The last goal allowed by the Timbers at home was Aug. 21 against Real Salt Lake.

* During their run of shutout play at JELD-WEN Field, the Timbers have not allowed more than three shots on goal in a single game by an opponent.

* Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts recorded his 13th shutout of the season which is tied for the league lead and a new career high for the Jamaican international.

* Forward Darlington Nagbe, making his 47th straight league start, was fouled three times by Real Salt Lake, giving him a league-high total of 80 fouls suffered in 2013.

* The 20,674 on hand at JELD-WEN Field marked the Timbers 51st consecutive sellout at JELD-WEN Field. The club has sold out every league match since joining MLS in 2011.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 20, 2013


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