Timbers Weekly Update: March 7, 2019
March 7, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers continue their stretch of 12 consecutive road games to begin the season with a match against Los Angeles FC on Sunday, March 10, at Banc of California Stadium. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific), Sunday's match will feature a national television broadcast on FS1 with local radio broadcasts on 1029 and 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Timbers' form
Portland (0-0-1, 1pt) opened the 2019 season on the road against the Colorado Rapids, playing to a 3-3 draw in the coldest game in MLS history (18 degrees at kickoff) on March 2. Sebastián Blanco and Diego Valeri each tallied their first goals of the season for the Timbers in the match, while Valeri also recorded his first assist of the campaign. It marked the fifth time the pair has scored a goal in the same match. Notably, the Timbers are 2-0-3 when both Blanco and Valeri score in the same game.
Facing LAFC
Portland travels to Los Angeles for the third meeting all-time in MLS play between the two sides. The Timbers are unbeaten in their two previous matches (1-0-1) against LAFC. In the first meeting in MLS play between the two clubs, Portland recorded a 2-1 victory at Providence Park on May 19, 2018. The two teams played to a scoreless draw on July 15, 2018, in the Timbers' first MLS match on the road against LAFC.
Extended road trip
Sunday's match against LAFC marks the second of 12 games on the road for the Timbers, as the club opens its ninth season in MLS. The Timbers' 12-game road trip to start the 2019 season is due to completion work on the $85 million transformation of Providence Park. During that stretch, the Timbers will travel roughly 30,000 miles, including trips to Cincinnati, Dallas, Columbus, Toronto, Houston and Philadelphia.
Scouting LAFC
LAFC (1-0-0, 3pts) opened its 2019 campaign with a 2-1 win at home against Sporting Kansas City. Diego Rossi and Adama Diomande tallied goals in the win, as Diomande recorded the game-winner in the final minute of second-half stoppage time. In its first MLS season in 2018, LAFC earned a berth in the MLS Cup playoffs and had one of the best home records in the league (9-1-7). Individually, Carlos Vela finished his first season in MLS ranked among the top 10 in MLS in goals scored with 14 goals in 28 games.
Next match
The Timbers travel to face expansion side FC Cincinnati on Sunday, March 17, at Nippert Stadium. The March 17 match kicks off at 2 p.m. (Pacific) and features a national television broadcast on FS1 with local radio broadcasts on 1029 and 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from March 7, 2019
- Timbers Weekly Update: March 7, 2019 - Portland Timbers
- Baggio Husidic Announces Retirement - LA Galaxy
- LAFC Loans Defender Lamar Batista to Phoenix Rising FC - Los Angeles FC
- Preview: Orlando City Heads to Chicago for First Road Contest of 2019 - Orlando City SC
- Chicago Fire Loans Forward Elliot Collier to Memphis 901 FC - Chicago Fire FC
- FC Cincinnati to Place Blake Smith on Waivers - FC Cincinnati
- Storylines | City vs. Chicago Fire - Orlando City SC
- Game against New England on May 17 Postponed to Saturday, May 18, at 1pm - Club de Foot Montreal
- New England Revolution's Match at Montreal Impact Rescheduled for May 18 - New England Revolution
- MLS Grows Younger and More Diverse with Youngest Class of Newcomers in League History - MLS
- Whitecaps FC Add Homegrown Goalkeeper Thomas Hasal to First-Team Roster - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Atlanta United Drops SCCL Quarterfinal First Leg 3-0 to C.F. Monterrey - Atlanta United FC
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.
Other Recent Portland Timbers Stories
- Timbers Fall to Philadelphia Union 3-1 at Providence Park
- Timbers Recall Goalkeeper Hunter Sulte from Loan with Indy Eleven for One Match
- Timbers Loan Tega Ikoba to USL Side Indy Eleven for 2024 Season
- Timbers Announce Multi-Year Partnership with KGW
- Timbers Sign Forward Jonathan RodrÍguez as Designated Player