Timbers Host Vancouver This Weekend
May 29, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers play host to a pair of matches this weekend at PGE Park, facing the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at 7 p.m. followed by Mexico's Club Americá reserves in an international exhibition Sunday at 5 p.m., presented by Tecate.
The Timbers take on Vancouver Saturday during Go Green Night at PGE Park presented by Esurance. The first 2,000 fans receive a Timbers water bottle. Tickets start at $11 and can be purchased through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmater outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
On Sunday, the Timbers face Mexican side Club Americá reserves in their first exhibition match of the season, presented by Tecate. The Club Americá reserves feature the rising stars of Mexico and Club Americá's first team, including Mexico U-20 National Team goalkeeper Hugo González Durán. Tickets for the exhibition start at $15 and are also available at the PGE Park box office and through Ticketmaster.
Coming off of a four-point road trip to Puerto Rico last weekend, the Timbers (3-1-3, 12pts) enter Saturday's match against rival Vancouver on a six-match unbeaten streak. Portland currently sits in fourth place in the USL First Division, just one point ahead of the Whitecaps (3-2-2, 11pts). Forward Mandjou Keita tallied two goals for the Timbers against the Puerto Rico Islanders and now joins the league leaders in scoring.
Portland and Vancouver square off for the second time this season on Saturday. In their previous meeting, the Whitecaps used a second-half strike from Martin Nash to hand the Timbers their only loss on the season on April 25. The Timbers are 7-18-8 against the Whitecaps since joining the USL First Division in 2001, but have a 6-4-6 mark against their rivals at PGE Park.
The Club Americá reserves make a stop in Portland to face the Timbers while on a preseason tour of the United States. The two sides will compete for the 2009 Coppa Gino Schettini, with the winning team participating in a special post-game ceremony. The Club Americá reserves, who compete in Mexico's second division, are coached by Alfredo Tena, a legendary defender for Club Americá and former Mexico National Team member, and feature first-team defender George Corral and Mexico U-18 midfielder Luis Ernesto Olascoaga. As a club, Club Americá is one of the most successful organizations in Mexican soccer history.
A live broadcast of Saturday's match will be available on 95.5 The Game and online at www.portlandtimbers.com, with a live video webcast through USL Live - now a free service at www.usllive.com. Both matches this weekend will be broadcast live in Spanish on 910AM + 1390AM ESPN Deportes.
ABOUT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS The Whitecaps face their second game in four days when they face they Timbers on Saturday. Vancouver defeated the Montreal Impact 1-0 on Wednesday in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship tournament. In league play, the Whitecaps have won three of their last four matches. Forward Marlon James ranks among league leaders in scoring with six points (3 goals) and Jay Nolly ranks among leading goalkeepers with three wins. Following its trip to Portland, Vancouver hosts Major League Soccer's Toronto FC on June 2 at Swangard Stadium in NCC competition.
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