Timbers riding first place into two-game stretch
August 11, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - With a tie or a win needed to lock down a spot in the postseason, the first-place Portland Timbers (15-7-1, 46pts) will play two games in three days in their drive for the top spot in the West. Calgary comes to town on Thursday and Minnesota hosts the Timbers on Saturday.
TIMBERS VS. CALGARY - Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. (Pacific)
The Timbers play the Mustangs (4-15-5, 17pts) for the final time this season in a game that promises to be an exciting rematch after Sunday's tough 1-1 draw between the two clubs in Calgary. The Mustangs are a new-look team in recent outings, collecting points against playoff contenders Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Milwaukee. Calgary dropped its last match 3-2 in overtime to Edmonton on Tuesday.
TIMBERS AT MINNESOTA - Saturday, Aug. 14, 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Although the Timbers defeated the Thunder 1-0 in St. Paul on June 22, Minnesota (11-8-3, 36pts) has the best home record in the A-League at 11-2. A likely playoff team, Minnesota defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Tuesday evening to snap a four-game losing streak. The Timbers should be focused, as this is their only one-game road trip of the season.
STREAK ENDED
When Edmonton's Nikola Vignjevic scored on a perfectly-placed free kick in the 82nd minute on Saturday, it ended Josh Saunders' streak of scoreless minutes at 363. The streak was the longest in four A-League seasons for the Timbers.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Timbers need a win or a tie to clinch their third playoff berth on four seasons ... four of the five remaining contests are played at PGE Park ... Portland holds a six-point advantage over second-place Vancouver heading into the week's action ... Vancouver plays three of its last five at home ... the Timbers have never finished the regular season in first place ... the first-place team will play the fourth-place team in the conference semifinals on Sept. 3-5, but dates are subject to change.
FORWARD THINKING
The Timbers feature the top two goal scorers in the A-League this season with the tandem of Alan Gordon and Byron Alvarez. Gordon ranks first in the league with 17 goals thus far, while Alvarez is tied for second in the circuit with 13 strikes. The Timbers as a team pace the league with 47 goals.
INJURY DEPT.
Defender Aaron Heinzen is out for the season after receiving surgery to remove a piece of dead bone in his left ankle ... defender Shawn Saunders is doubtful with a strained tendon in his left ankle ... defender David Henning is listed as questionable for the Calgary match with a sprained left ankle suffered on Sunday ... midfielder Andrew Gregor is probable with a groin injury.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Several Timbers and Bigfoot the mascot made the trip to Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital on Wednesday afternoon to visit with patients, hand out gifts and sign autographs for fans. Those who made the trip include: Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Dan Antoniuk, Memo Arzate, Erik Cronkrite, Bayard Elfvin, David Henning, Edwin Miranda, Jake Sagare and Jarrod Weis.
ON THE AIR
Both of this week's matches will be aired live on KZNY AM-1010 with Andy McNamara calling the play-by-play. Arnulfo Alvarez will call the games in Spanish on KRMZ AM-1150. Both broadcasts are aired on the Internet at OregonLive.com.
USL First Division Stories from August 11, 2004
- Timbers riding first place into two-game stretch - Portland Timbers
- Wave U set to battle Whtecaps tomorrow night; controls own destiny for final WesCo spot - Milwaukee Wave United
- Chronopoulos named to Team of the Week - Charleston Battery
- Whitecaps Lose 2-1 In Minnesota On Late Goal - Vancouver Whitecaps
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