Timbers Face Crystal Palace Baltimore on the Road Saturday
September 23, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers take their season-long, eight-game unbeaten streak on the road this weekend as they visit Crystal Palace Baltimore on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) at Paul Angelo Russo Stadium.
Saturday's match will be broadcast live on Newsradio 750 KXL, with a live video webcast available online at www.portlandtimbers.com/live. Announced earlier this week, Saturday's kickoff time was changed to the 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) start.
While the Timbers have already secured a spot in the postseason, the club continues the chase for one of the top four seeds in the USSF Division-2 Pro League. Currently ranked fourth in the overall league standings, the Timbers can clinch a position in the top four with a win Saturday. The top eight teams in the league advance to the playoffs, regardless of conference alignment.
With a road victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders last weekend, the Timbers stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches. Midfielder Kalif Alhassan scored the game-winning goal from distance in second-half stoppage time and the defense logged its fourth consecutive shutout in the win. Portland's backline has not conceded a goal in the last 424 minutes of play. The last goal allowed by the Timbers was in the 26th minute in a 1-1 draw against the Austin Aztex on Aug. 26.
Portland's defense, which ranks second in the league in fewest goals allowed this season (20), has conceded just three goals and has shut out six of its last seven opponents during the unbeaten streak.
On the road for a third straight weekend, the Timbers (12-7-9, 45pts) are 3-0-1 away from Portland during their unbeaten streak and have not allowed a goal in those four contests.
With two games left to play in the regular season, midfielder Ryan Pore holds the lead in the race for the league's scoring title and Golden Boot award. He has scored a league-high 15 goals and has a total of 34 points on the season.
The Timbers and Crystal Palace Baltimore (6-16-6, 24pts) conclude their four-game, regular-season series on Saturday. After losing the first two encounters, the Timbers defeated Baltimore 3-0 at PGE Park on Aug. 29 as part of the team's current unbeaten streak. In the last visit to Baltimore on May 22, the Timbers had a one-goal lead erased by two goals from Crystal Palace Baltimore in the final 16 minutes of the match in an early-season 2-1 loss. Portland is 1-2-0 against Crystal Palace Baltimore on the campaign, but has out-scored its counterpart 4-2 in the series.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 23, 2010
- Rematch Looms Large for the Aztex - Austin Aztex
- Timbers Face Crystal Palace Baltimore on the Road Saturday - Portland Timbers
- NSC Minnesota Stars to Close out Regular Season in Tampa - Minnesota United FC
- Stars Clinch Playoff Berth - Minnesota United FC
- Last Home Game Pits Palace Baltimore Against Timbers - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Impact Faces Whitecaps in Vancouver Friday - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps FC Renew Montreal Rivalry - Vancouver Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
