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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

May 9, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. ‚¬" After three straight matches at home, the Portland Timbers hit the road for their highly anticipated, first MLS matchup with Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at Qwest Field live on ESPN2; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (PT).

In addition to the national broadcast on ESPN2, Saturday ‚¬â„¢s match will be broadcast live locally on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game and in Spanish on LA Pantera 940 AM.

Winners of four of their last five league matches, the Timbers (4-3-1, 13pts) are coming off back-to-back shutout victories over Real Salt Lake and the Philadelphia Union in their last two league matches. Both Portland and Seattle (3-3-4, 13pts) enter the week tied for fourth place in the Western Conference at 13 points.

The history between the Timbers and Sounders dates back to the original North American Soccer League in 1975. After the NASL (1975-82), the two sides competed in the Western Soccer League (1985-90) and then squared off for eight seasons (2001-08) as second-division foes in United Soccer Leagues before Seattle joined MLS in 2009.

Saturday ‚¬â„¢s fixture is the first of the season for the Cascadia Cup ‚¬" a fan-based derby between the Timbers, Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The team with the best head-to-head record between three Northwest rivals is awarded the annual Cascadia Cup.

Sounders FC endured a two-game road trip last week, facing D.C. United and the Columbus Crew within a four-day span. After dropping a 2-1 result to United, Sounders FC battled the Crew to a 1-1 draw last Saturday.

Additionally, the Timbers Reserves will play the Sounders FC Reserves in MLS Reserve League play on Sunday at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Wash., at 1 p.m.

Watch the Timbers take on Sounders FC with fans at Thirsty Lion

Fans are invited to join the Timbers ‚¬â„¢ official viewing party Saturday to watch the club take on Sounders FC at Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill in downtown Portland, presented by ROOT SPORTS and Budweiser. The rivalry match between Portland and Seattle will be shown on eight 50-inch plasma TVs throughout the pub. Those in attendance can enter to win Timbers tickets and merchandise.

Thirsty Lion, located at 71 SW 2nd Ave. in Portland, is one of several local pubs and restaurants featured with the club ‚¬â„¢s pub partner program in 2011. Click here to see where the next viewing parties will take place.

Timbers to debut secondary ‚¬ËœRose City ‚¬â„¢ red kits in Seattle

The Timbers will debut their secondary, ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â red kits on Saturday, when they face Sounders FC on the road at Qwest Field.

The ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â jersey features a split design of two shades of red, separated by ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â thorns repeated down the middle, and Alaska Airlines script across the chest. Highlights of the jersey include ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â verbiage on the back of the neck and the Rose City logo prominently displayed opposite the team ‚¬â„¢s primary crest on the front of the jersey.

Fans can purchase ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â red kits, as well as other items in the ‚¬Å“Rose City ‚¬Â apparel line, at the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field in downtown Portland or online at shop.portlandtimbers.com.

Portland-Seattle: a soccer rivalry for the ages

Saturday ‚¬â„¢s first official MLS meeting between the Timbers and Sounders FC marks the 75th all-time matchup between Portland and Seattle, dating back to 1975, when both were members of the NASL. The two first played one another on May 2, 1975 ‚¬" the Timbers ‚¬â„¢ inaugural NASL match.

Notes on the Timbers-Sounders rivalry:

The Timbers have won the last two meetings in the Seattle area ‚¬" beating Sounders FC 1-0 in preseason in 2010 and defeating them 2-0 during the 2011 preseason at the Cascadia Summit. The 2010 preseason match was a Community Shield match, in which the second-division Timbers defeated Sounders FC before more than 18,000 fans.

The Timbers have not lost a match to the Sounders in Seattle since 2007. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw in their only meeting in Seattle in 2008 and the lone 2009 contest between the rivals was held in Portland as part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.

The Timbers are the owners of the last two Cascadia Cups (2009, 2010).

The rivalry was renewed at the USL-1 level when the Timbers played host to Seattle in their first home game of the 2001 season. Portland won 2-0 (May 11, 2001).

The last official league match between the two clubs was Aug. 7, 2008.

The Timbers ‚¬â„¢ final NASL meeting came against Seattle, on Aug. 22, 1982.

The teams played before sold-out crowds in Portland in U.S. Open Cup play in both 2009 and 2010. The Timbers took Sounders FC to penalty kicks in a third-round match of the 2010 tournament.

Danso ‚¬â„¢s winner up for MLS Goal of the Week: Week 8

Defender Futty Danso scored the game-winning goal in the Timbers ‚¬â„¢ 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union last week at JELD-WEN Field. His header in the 72nd minute ‚¬" his first MLS goal ‚¬" is one of five goals from Week 8 up for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week.

Alaska Airlines unveils new Portland ‚¬ËœTimbers Jet ‚¬â„¢ last week

Last Friday, Alaska Airlines introduced its Portland ‚¬Å“Timbers Jet ‚¬Â before a crowd of fans at Portland International Airport. The new Boeing 737-700 paint theme is a combination of two designs created by Paul Wright of Portland, Ore., and John Bode of San Mateo, Calif. The aircraft features the Timbers ‚¬â„¢ name and logo in the team ‚¬â„¢s trademark colors with a rising sun across the forward part of the fuselage.

The two first-place designs were chosen from among 500 entries in a ‚¬Å“Paint-the-Plane ‚¬Â contest. The ‚¬Å“Timbers Jet ‚¬Â celebrates Alaska Airlines ‚¬â„¢ pride in being the official airline and jersey sponsor of the Timbers.

Catch ‚¬ËœTalk Timbers, ‚¬â„¢ presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game

The Timbers' radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. on Sportsradio 95.5 The Game. Featuring interviews with coaches, players, club officials and special guests, the show 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.

Catch ‚¬ËœTimbers in 30 ‚¬â„¢ on KPTV FOX 12

The Timbers ‚¬â„¢ TV show ‚¬Å“Timbers in 30 ‚¬Â is a highlight and recap show airing each Sunday on KPTV FOX 12 at 6 p.m. Featuring highlights of previous games, discussion, interviews, players features and more, ‚¬Å“Timbers in 30 ‚¬Â is the place get all of the latest club news in 30 minutes. Previous shows are available online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Tickets for Timbers ‚¬â„¢ exhibition against AFC Ajax on sale now

Tickets for the Timbers ‚¬â„¢ exhibition match against elite Dutch club AFC Ajax on Wednesday, May 25, at JELD-WEN Field are on sale; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Tickets, starting at $9, are available for purchase through the JELD-WEN Field box office, local Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. For 2011 season ticket and package holders, the Ajax friendly is included in full-season packages as Exhibition A, as well as half-season plan B and five-game pack F.

The 2010-11 UEFA Champions League participant features Dutch National Team goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and defender Gregory van der Wiel, who both played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Its squad also includes Danish international Christian Eriksen and Belgium National Team members Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 9, 2011


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