MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on October 25, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers concluded their inaugural Major League Soccer season over the weekend, finishing the campaign on a high with an unbeaten two-match road trip against D.C. United and Real Salt Lake.

In the season finale against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 22, defender Futty Danso scored his third goal of the season in second-half stoppage time as the Timbers rallied for a 1-1 draw. Portland was unbeaten in its last three road matches of the season, posting a win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Oct. 2) and a 1-1 draw against D.C. United (Oct. 19).

The Timbers finished their first season in MLS with an 11-14-9 (42pts) record. With 11 wins this season, the Timbers were tied for fourth with the 2006 Houston Dynamo among MLS expansion franchises for wins in their inaugural seasons. The club's nine home wins was tied for third in the league with Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City.

In the thick of the MLS Cup playoff race down to the final matches of the season, the Timbers assembled a 4-2-4 record over the final 10 games of the regular season; one of their best 10-game stretches in 2011. Portland missed out on a place in the postseason by just four points.

Midfielder Jack Jewsbury was the Timbers' leading scorer in 2011, posting a career-high 22 points from seven goals and eight assists. Forward Kenny Cooper tallied a team-best eight goals, while defender Eric Brunner paced the Timbers with 2,795 minutes played.

The Timbers will continue to train over the next month as they look ahead to the 2012 MLS campaign.

AT&T Goal of the Year voting starts Tuesday on MLSsoccer.com; Cooper in the mix

This year, 64 goals will be nominated for AT&T Goal of the Year - the 32 winners of the AT&T Goal of the Week, plus 32 goals chosen by a panel of MLSsoccer.com's editorial staff. Timbers forward Kenny Cooper is in the mix with his game-winning goal against Vancouver on Oct. 2.

Fans, media, clubs, and players are all encouraged to vote early and often to help their favorites advance. Voting will occur online and via text message in four phases, with the first round taking place Oct. 25-29. The first round will consist of the 64 nominated goals, placed in 16 groups of four. The top two in each group, as determined by an online vote, will advance to the Second Round. Cooper's strike against Whitecaps FC is one of four goals in Group D, voting for Cooper's group ends Wednesday night.

Vote Diego Chara for FubolMLS.com's Latino del Año

Timbers midfielder Diego Chara is one of 32 Latino players in MLS, chosen by the editorial groups of FutbolMLS.com and MLSsoccer.com, nominated for FutbolMLS.com's Latino del Año 2011. Nominees were players that stood out throughout the 2011 season, whose hard work on the field shined through each of the 32 weeks of the campaign.

The award will be decided upon by fans in a tournament-style vote, with voting taking place each week until the Latino del Año is determined on Nov. 21. Details on the award and voting are available here.

Voting starts with eight groups of four players. Chara is in Group C, with Seattle's Mauro Rosales, LA Galaxy's Juninho and Columbus' Sebastian Miranda. The two players from each group that receive the majority of the vote will advance to the Round of 16. Click here to place your vote.

Timbers celebrate 2011 season with Stand Together Awards Banquet

Upon completion of the regular season, the Timbers announced their club awards from their inaugural MLS season at the Stand Together Awards Banquet on Sunday evening at The Nines, celebrating accomplishments, performances and moments from 2011.

Highlighting the banquet was the awarding of the club's six major awards - Golden Boot, Player's Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Play of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year. The Timbers also recognized the accomplishments of coaches and players affiliated with their youth academy and programs. Click here to see the night's award winners.

Proceeds from the Stand Together Awards Banquet, which included both a silent and live auctions, benefit the Portland Timbers Community Fund, support the Timbers' work in the greater-Portland community.

Timbers surpass 97-percent renewal rate for 2012 season tickets

The Timbers announced that the club has surpassed a 97 percent renewal rate of its season-ticket base for the 2012 Major League Soccer season. The club's Season Ticket Waiting List now sits at over 5,000 fans.

In their inaugural MLS campaign in 2011, the Timbers sold out of season tickets prior to the start of the season and sold out all 17 league matches at JELD-WEN Field. For 2012, Timbers season ticket prices for more than 80 percent of the seats at JELD-WEN Field remained the same as prices in 2011.

Fans interested in joining the Timbers' Season Ticket Waiting List can contact a Timbers ticket representative at (503) 553-5555 or by email at ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com. With a $50 per-seat refundable deposit to join the waiting list, fans can secure the chance to purchase season tickets when they become available, have priority for additional ticket plans released by the club and have access to special pre-sale opportunities among other benefits.

Darlington Nagbe's first pro goal listed at No. 2 on ESPN's MLS Top 10 Goals of the Year

Now that the regular season is over, it's time for the various best-of lists. Listed at No. 2 on ESPN's MLS Top 10 Goals of the Year is midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe's strike from July 2 against Sporting KC at JELD-WEN Field; it was his first professional goal. Click here to see ESPN's top MLS goals from 2011.

Also named the Timbers' 2011 Play of the Year, Nagbe's amazing goal has surpassed one million views on YouTube.com and was named MLSsoccer.com's Goal of the Week in Week 16.

Last week to check out the Timbers-themed cornfield maze on Sauvie Island

It is the last week to visit the Timbers-themed cornfield maze at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. Featuring a Timbers logo, along with a series of pathways, carved into a five-acre, towering cornfield, the Timbers MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Monday, Oct. 31.

The Timbers MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch is located at 16511 NW Gillihan Rd. on Portland's Sauvie Island. The cost of admission is $7 for maze-goers 13 and older and just $5 for kids ages 6-12 as well as for seniors 60 and older. For additional information, please visit www.portlandmaze.com.

‚¬ËœTalk Timbers,' presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, to continue into offseason

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, will continue into the offseason, airing each Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m., on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, Talk Timbers will feature interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will continue to provide team news and the latest information from around MLS.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com.

Timbers support MLS W.O.R.K.S.' Soccer Kicks Cancer campaign

Throughout the month of October, the Timbers and rest of MLS have supported MLS W.O.R.K.S.' breast cancer awareness campaign as part of Soccer Kicks Cancer, by wearing special pink ribbons on their jerseys and a variety of pink-colored items, including shoelaces and wristbands.

Soccer Kicks Cancer is a three-month campaign focused on raising awareness and funds for cancer research and treatment and providing strength and hope in the fight against cancer affecting men, women and children.

Game-worn autographed jerseys and special-edition pink match balls from across the league are available for auction at www.MLSsoccer.com/works as part of the League's effort to raise funds for breast cancer research and treatment.

Additionally, limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness adidas products including scarves, sweat bands, hats, t-shirts and replica balls will be available for purchase at select retailers throughout North America, the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field and online at www.MLSGear.com. A portion of the proceeds from these sales and proceeds from the online auction will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure©.

MLS to hold 2012 SuperDraft on Jan. 12 in Kansas City, Mo.

Last week, MLS announced that the league will hold the 2012 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. The first round of the SuperDraft will be broadcast live on ESPN2, beginning at 9 a.m. (PT).

In 2012, the MLS SuperDraft will consist of two rounds and include 38 overall selections; 2012 MLS expansion club Montreal holds the No. 1 overall selection. The 2012 adidas MLS Player Combine will again be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., prior to the SuperDraft. Click here for 2012 MLS SuperDraft details.

For the eighth consecutive year, the MLS SuperDraft will be held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention.

Additionally, MLS announced that a four-round Supplemental Draft will take place via conference call on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.

MLS unveils Expansion Draft, Re-Entry Draft plans

MLS recently announced details regarding two of its player-acquisition mechanisms - the 2012 MLS Expansion Draft and the 2011 Re-Entry Process drafts.

In preparation for the addition of the league's 19th club in 2012 in the Montreal Impact, MLS will hold its Expansion Draft, via conference call, on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. (PT). Montreal will select 10 players during the 10-round draft. Each current club will have the opportunity to protect 11 players from their 2011 roster. Clubs must submit protected rosters to MLS by Monday, Nov. 21. Click here for additional Expansion Draft details.

The 2011 Re-Entry Process drafts will take place in early December, with the first stage taking place on Monday, Dec. 5. The priority order for the Re-Entry Process drafts is the reverse order of finish in 2011, taking into account playoff performance; the Impact will have the 19th selection. The selection order and players available for selection will be release on Nov. 30. Click here for Re-Entry Process drafts details.

Players who are not selected in the Stage 1 draft will be made available for the Stage 2 draft on Dec. 12. All players who remain unselected after Stage 2 will be available to any MLS club on a first come, first served basis.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 25, 2011


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