MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update: February 22

Published on February 22, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Midway through their camp in Casa Grande, Ariz., the Portland Timbers continued their fifth week of preseason Tuesday, preparing for the upcoming Major League Soccer season and two preseason matches this week. The first-year MLS club faces the Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City as it finishes camp in the Valley of the Sun.

Mixed into this week's schedule, filled with two-a-day training sessions, are the team's preseason matches at Grande Sports World. The Timbers face a familiar side Wednesday at 3 p.m. (Pacific) when they play the second-division Impact, who will join MLS as an expansion club in 2012. Portland meets Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific).

Now a full month into preseason, the Timbers training group includes 30 players - both signed and non-roster players. Non-roster midfielder Roberto Merino Ramirez joined the Timbers late last week as the team arrived in Arizona. Meanwhile, the Timbers have two trialists who trained with the team in California that have rejoined the group - forwards Jorge Perlaza and Brian Umony. Perlaza returned to the team over the weekend, while Umony arrived in camp Monday.

After playing Sporting Kansas City, the Timbers return to Portland on Saturday evening. While back in the Rose City, the Timbers will prepare for the upcoming Cascadia Summit against Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Tukwila, Wash., from March 4-6.

Upcoming Schedule: Feb. 22-27 Tuesday, Feb. 22 - Training sessions at Grande Sports World Wednesday, Feb. 23 - Preseason match vs. Montreal Impact at Grande Sports World; 3 p.m. (Pacific) Thursday, Feb. 24 - Training sessions at Grande Sports World Friday, Feb. 25 - Training sessions at Grande Sports World Saturday, Feb. 26 - Preseason match vs. Sporting Kansas City at Grande Sports World; 10:30 a.m. (Pacific) / Travel back to Portland Sunday, Feb. 27 - Day off

Catch "Talk Timbers" live Tuesday on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," airs tonight from 6-8 p.m. on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game. Featuring interviews with coaches, players, club officials and special guests, Talk Timbers is a prime source for Timbers news and information.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 95.5 The Game or listen online at www.955thegame.com.

Timbers, Dynamo play to scoreless draw in sand-storm conditions Over the weekend, the Timbers conducted their third scrimmage of the preseason, playing the Houston Dynamo to a scoreless draw in gusting winds and a subsequent sand storm at Grande Sports World. The match was halted at the 80-minute mark due to the extreme weather conditions that created limited visibility on the field at times. Click here for a match report, photos and video from Saturday's match.

In the draw, the Timbers held the Dynamo's potent preseason offense scoreless for the first time in five games. Houston had scored a combined 13 goals against its first four preseason opponents. The Timbers have tied in each of their three preseason games in 2011.

The Timbers' match against the U.S. U-18 National Team scheduled to follow the Houston scrimmage Saturday was cancelled due to the weather conditions.

Timbers Preseason Schedule & Results: Friday, Feb. 4 - Timbers draw Ventura County Fusion 1-1 at Ventura College in Ventura, Calif. Tuesday, Feb. 8 - Timbers draw LA Galaxy 1-1 at The Home Depot Center (track & field stadium) in Carson, Calif. Saturday, Feb. 19 - Timbers draw Houston Dynamo 0-0 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. Saturday, Feb. 19 - Timbers vs. U.S. U-18 National Team cancelled (weather)

Wednesday, Feb. 23 - Timbers vs. Montreal Impact at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. Saturday, Feb. 26 - Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. Friday, March 4 - Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. Saturday, March 5 - Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

Timbers featured five times on FSC in 2011 The Timbers will have five regular-season matches broadcast nationally on Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) in 2011. With the added FSC games, the club now has eight nationally televised games lined up for its inaugural season. The additional broadcasts brought some changes to the Timbers' schedule.

Portland's home match against the Philadelphia Union has been moved to Friday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), and the club's away tilt against Chivas USA is now Saturday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. Three other matches underwent time changes due to FSC broadcasts.

Click here to view the recent changes and the Timbers' entire 2011 regular-season schedule.

Timbers, OYSA unveil new development/academy programs The Timbers and Oregon Youth Soccer Association (OYSA) have announced a new integrated and innovative youth development program, which will become the foundation of the state's Olympic Development Program (ODP) and the club's youth academy. The program will provide elite youth players advanced training and competitive opportunities throughout Oregon.

Overseeing the new program is OYSA technical director Mike Smith, who will also serve as the Timbers' youth academy director, and Timbers youth academy manager/ODP coordinator Erik Lyslo. Click here for information about the new development programs, which will begin as early as this fall.

2011 season tickets still available The Timbers make their MLS home debut on Thursday, April 14, against the Chicago Fire in a newly renovated stadium; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Available season tickets start at $18 and can be purchased now by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555. Additional ticket information as well as an interactive Virtual Venue is available online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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