MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 3, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers kick off a busy schedule during the month of May on Saturday as they play host to the Columbus Crew at JELD-WEN field, presented by The Home Depot; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The first 5,000 fans through the gates Saturday receive a mystery gift card worth up to $1,000, courtesy of The Home Depot. Gift cards can be redeemed at a local The Home Depot store to discover its value.

Saturday's contest against the Crew will be televised live on KPTV, in Spanish on Estrella TV and across the Portland Timbers Television Network in the Oregon markets of Bend (NTVZ/Central Oregon's CW), Eugene (KEVU/MyNetworkTV) and Medford (KFBI-TV/My48). Live radio broadcasts will air on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

The Timbers (2-5-1, 7pts) play four league games during the month of May, including three at JELD-WEN Field. Portland's only road match during the month is Tuesday, May 15, against the Houston Dynamo at the new BBVA Compass Stadium. In addition to league games, the Timbers also play host to Spanish side Valencia CF in an international exhibition at JELD-WEN Field on Wednesday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.

Portland and Columbus (2-4-1, 7pts) meet for the lone time during the 2012 regular season. The two sides split their season series in 2011, with each club earning a 1-0 win at home.

Columbus arrives in the Rose city in the midst of a four-game winless stretch. The Crew, who are without first-choice goalkeeper Will Hemser and several others due to injury, are 0-2-0 against the Western Conference this season and have managed six goals in seven games. Recently, the Crew lost 1-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Crew Stadium in their last match April 28.

Saturday's match at JELD-WEN Field will feature new gate times. The KeyBank Club entrance will open two hours prior to kickoff, while Gate 3, serving the Timbers Army, opens 90 minutes early. All other gates (Gate 1, 2, 4) will open 75 minutes prior to kickoff.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. COLUMBUS CREW

Saturday marks the third meeting between the Crew and Timbers. The two sides split the season series in 2011, both winning 1-0 at home. Overall, the MLS Timbers are 6-10-5 all-time against Eastern Conference opponents, including 5-3-2 at JELD-WEN Field. Last season, Portland had a 2-1-1 record during the month of May. The Timbers are 11-7-3 at JELD-WEN Field against MLS opponents in the club's two-year MLS history. All seven goals the Timbers have scored, or been credited, at home this season have come while attacking the North goal - facing the Timbers Army. Portland will play three of its next four league matches at JELD-WEN Field, starting Saturday against Columbus. The Timbers are 8-5-4 all-time when outshooting their MLS opponents, including 8-2-2 at home.

TIMBERS PLAYER NOTES vs. COLUMBUS CREW

Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik and defender Steve Smith made their Timbers and MLS debuts in the match against Montreal on April 28. Bendik entered as a sub in the second half, while Smith started at left back. The exit by Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins due to injury against Montreal marked the first time in his 136 career MLS matches in which he did not play a full 90 minutes in a match in which he started. Perkins has recorded six wins in 13 career appearances against Columbus. Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury has recorded six of his 30 career assists in 21 matches against Columbus, his career-high against an MLS opponent. Jewsbury set up the game-winner for the Timbers against the Crew on May 21, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field. With an appearance Saturday, Jewsbury will have played against the Crew 22 times during his MLS career, matching the most games he's played against a single MLS opponent (D.C. United - 22 GP; New England Revolution - 22 GP). Defender Eric Brunner scored the game-winning goal against Columbus, his old club, on May 21, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field. Brunner, a native of Dublin, Ohio, played for the Crew for two seasons from 2009-10. At the start of Week 9, midfielder Eric Alexander ranked fourth in the league with an average of 0.58 assists per 90 minutes (among players with a minimum of 400 minutes played).

TEAM NEWS

Help design Papa Murphy's new Timbers-inspired "Lumberjack Pizza"

Papa Murphy's and the Timbers want fans to help design the new, Timbers-inspired "Lumberjack Pizza."

Display your Timbers pride by creating your own, unique recipe using the ingredients and guidelines provided on the official entry form for your chance to win great prizes from the Timbers and Papa Murphy's, the Official Pizza of the Portland Timbers.

Finalists will have their pizza judged by an expert panel including Timber Joey and a Timbers player, and the Grand Prize winner's pizza will be added to Papa Murphy's menu for a limited time.

- One (1) Grand Prize Winner will have his/her Lumberjack Pizza recipe featured on Papa Murphy's menu and receive one (1) free Papa Murphy's Pizza a month for a year; one (1) Timbers team autographed replica jersey; and one (1) appearance by a Timbers player;

- One (1) Second Prize Winner will receive ten (10) free Papa Murphy's Mini Murph Make "˜N' Bake Pizza Kits and one (1) Timbers team autographed soccer ball; and

- One (1) Third Prize Winner will receive one (1) Timbers team autographed soccer ball.

Click here for additional contest details and to fill out the official entry form; completed forms must be submitted by 8:59 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, May 20.

Single-game tickets now available for MLS Reserve League matches at JELD-WEN Field

Tickets for the Timbers' 2012 MLS Reserve League home schedule at JELD-WEN Field, which begins May 27 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves, are now available.

Five-game season tickets are available by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or emailing ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com. Single-game tickets are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For group opportunities (15 or more) or to take advantage of corporate hospitality, picnic areas, and on-field opportunities, please contact the Timbers ticket office.

Timbers U-23s to host U.S. Open Cup first round match on May 15 at JELD-WEN Field

The Timbers' development team, the Portland Timbers U-23s, will play host to a U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) club in their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday, May 15, at JELD-WEN Field at 7:30 p.m. Their opponent will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the Timbers U-23s' U.S. Open Cup match are $7 and go on sale to the public Tuesday, May 8, at 10 a.m. through the JELD-WEN Field box office and Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

The winner of the Timbers U-23s' first-round matchup will travel to take on the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League (NASL) on Tuesday, May 22, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.; kickoff is set for 4:07 p.m. (Pacific). Click here for more on the Timbers U-23s U.S. Open Cup debut.

Timbers announce three strategic partnerships within local soccer community

This week, the Timbers announced a series of three different partnerships within the Portland soccer community.

On Tuesday, the Timbers announced a partnership with the Oregon Premier League (OPL), a statewide youth soccer association serving over 45 member clubs across Oregon. As part of the partnership with the OPL, the Timbers become the presenting partner of the annual OPL State Cup, which wraps up this weekend in Beaverton, Ore.

The Timbers have also partnered with the Portland Rain of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and Oregon Youth Soccer Association's (OYSA) Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP), helping to create a vertically integrated development system from Oregon's girls youth soccer levels to premier women's competition.

JELD-WEN Field, AECOM receive Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture

The American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter (AIA San Francisco) recently announced the winners of the 2012 AIA San Francisco Design Awards program, with the remarkable renovation to JELD-WEN Field, home of the Portland Timbers, and the architects of the project, AECOM, receiving the organization's Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture.

The $40 million renovation to JELD-WEN Field, which was completed just prior to the Timbers inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2011, was honored as an urban-planning success story that balances contemporary architecture with the historic character of the iconic downtown stadium, which was originally constructed in 1926.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

TV: "Timbers In 30"

The Timbers weekly television show, "Timbers In 30," features exclusive, inside access to the club and airs each Friday at 6:30 p.m. on KPTV Fox 12. Moved to a new, Friday night time slot this season, "Timbers In 30" will focus on inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provide detailed team and game analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers players and coaches each week.

Previously aired shows and "Timbers In 30" features can be found at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors now airs each Tuesday at 6 p.m. (Pacific) on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, "Talk Timbers" features interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS during the 2012 season.

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

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 3, 2012


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