Timbers match preview
May 21, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - With Saturday night's 1-0 win at Seattle, the Portland Timbers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in franchise history and sit atop the Western Conference standings with a 3-0 record. Next up is a trip to Vancouver, where the Timbers have been saddled with a seven game winless streak.
TIMBERS AT VANCOUVER - SUNDAY
The Timbers head to Vancouver with first place on the line in a Sunday showdown with the Whitecaps. Portland has never beaten the Whitecaps in Vancouver since joining the A-League in 2001. With a 0-6-1 record north of the border, the Timbers played Vancouver to a 1-1 tie in 2003. The Whitecaps return several key players from last year's team, including scoring threats Carlo Corazzin, Jason Jordan and Oliver Heald, who was named to the A-League Team of the Week Tuesday.
U.S. OPEN CUP
The U.S. Open Cup-bound Timbers will not know whom they will face until parings are announced Tuesday, May 25. The Timbers have earned a bye for the first two rounds and will play their first match on June 30, most likely at PGE Park against a lower-division team.
INJURY UPDATE
Veteran midfielder Brian Winters, who has been sidelined this season by plantar fascitis, is cleared to play Sunday ... defender Edwin Miranda, slowed by an Achilles strain, is listed as day-to-day ... forward McKinley Tennyson is still out with an inflamed hip.
IN THE COMMUNITY
The Timbers will be making several appearances in the community in the coming week, including: Tuesday, May 25 at W.L. Henry Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. for a demonstration assembly ... Tuesday, May 25 at Arleta Elementary School for an assembly at 1:15 ... Wednesday, May 26 at Chapman Elementary School at 1 p.m. to conduct soccer drills with a class ... Thursday, May 27 to visit with kids at Shriner's Hospital, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
CASCADIA CUP
Sunday's match is the third of eight matches against northwest rivals Seattle and Vancouver in the Timbers' quest for the 2004 Cascadia Cup. The Cup, which is sponsored by the three clubs' supporters groups, will be awarded to the team with the highest number of head-to-head points at the conclusion of the season. The Timbers lead the competition in the early stages with six points.
ON THE AIR
Sunday's match at Vancouver will be aired live on KZNY AM-1010 at 7 p.m. with Andy McNamara calling the play-by-play. Arnulfo Alvarez will call the game in Spanish on KRMZ AM-1150. Both broadcasts can be heard on the Internet at 7 p.m. on OregonLive.com.
USL First Division Stories from May 21, 2004
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- Timbers match preview - Portland Timbers
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