Portland Timbers Match Notes
Published on July 12, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
TONIGHT'S MATCH: The Portland Timbers play host to the Seattle Sounders in the third round of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
VANCOUVER RECAP: Steve Klein scored two goals and Joey Gjertsen added a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked the Timbers 4-0 before 2,440 Saturday night in Kelowna, B.C. The Timbers were outscored 8-2 in losses to Seattle and Vancouver over the weekend and are now winless in their last five matches. Portland goalkeeper Josh Saunders was tested all night, making two saves while facing 15 Vancouver shots. The Timbers are 0-2-1 versus Vancouver this season with one game remaining between the two clubs.
THE U.S. OPEN CUP: The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's national championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. Running concurrent with league play, U.S. Open Cup results do not affect league standings. The Timbers earned a bye for the first two rounds this year after finishing 2004 with the top record in the USL First Division.
THE SERIES: Seattle and Portland have never met in the U.S. Open Cup, but the Timbers defeated the Sounders 3-1 in a two-game, aggregate-goal series to earn qualification in last year's competition ... in league play, the two clubs are tied 1-1 this season, with Seattle defeating the Timbers 4-2 on Saturday in Tukwila, Wash. ... Seattle holds the series edge in regular-season play since 2001, 11-8-1.
THE WAY TO SAN JOSE: If the Timbers defeat the Sounders tonight, they will host Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes at PGE Park on Wednesday, Aug. 3, in the fourth round. San Jose defeated the Timbers 3-0 in last year's fourth-round U.S. Open Cup match.
BANGED UP: Defender Gavin Wilkinson will not dress tonight due to back problems and forward Paul Conway will be held out with a groin injury.
NEXT UP: The Timbers return to league play with a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at PGE Park this Thursday, July 14. It's the last game for the Timbers before taking on Sunderland AFC of the English Premier League on July 23, at PGE Park.
USL First Division Stories from July 12, 2005
- Portland shuts out Sounders 2-0 in third round of competition - Portland Timbers
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