MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 10, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers face Dynamo at new BBVA Compass Stadium on Tuesday

PORTLAND, Ore. - After a 10-day break between matches, the Portland Timbers take to the road for the only time this month to face the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) at the new BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston.

Tuesday's contest against the Dynamo, the first night match held at BBVA Compass Stadium, will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS, with radio broadcasts airing on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

The Timbers (2-5-2, 8pts) play four league games in May, with Tuesday's match being the club's lone road game during the month. Additionally, the Timbers also play host to Spanish side Valencia CF in an international exhibition at JELD-WEN Field on Wednesday, May 23.

Portland and Houston (2-3-2, 8pts) meet for their only regular-season matchup during the 2012 season. The Dynamo leads the all-time series between the MLS clubs 2-0-0, winning both matches in 2011.

The Dynamo ended a series of seven consecutive road games with a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday. Houston plays its highly anticipated home opener at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday against D.C. United. Houston opened the season on the road while construction crews finished the league's newest, urban soccer-specific stadium.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO

While the Timbers enter Tuesday's fixture at the end of a 10-day break, the Dynamo will be playing in their third game in seven days when the two clubs meet next week. In 2011, the Timbers registered a mark of 1-1-1 overall when playing after a break of 10 days or more between league matches. This season, the Timbers have four stretches of 10 or more days without a league match, including the current break. The Dynamo lead the all-time series against the Timbers 2-0-0, with a 2-1 win on Aug. 14, 2011, in Houston and a 2-0 win Oct. 14, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field. Portland's matchup against Houston opens a stretch of four games in 12 days, including an international exhibition against Spanish club Valencia CF on May 23 at JELD-WEN Field. Since joining MLS in 2011, the Timbers are 6-10-6 overall against Eastern Conference clubs. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Timbers current streak of 231 minutes without scoring a goal is the club's longest such streak in MLS. Portland's last goal scored was in the 41st minute of a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on April 21. The next Timbers goal will mark the club's 50th overall in two seasons in MLS.

TIMBERS PLAYER NOTES vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO

Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 38th consecutive start for the Timbers on May 5 against Columbus. Perkins' streak is fourth best among active MLS goalkeepers. Perkins has a 1.50 goals-average and recorded 28 saves in eight career matches against Houston. Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury scored a goal against Houston in 2011, one of his career-best seven goals last season. Jewsbury started at right back for the Timbers against the Crew on May 5, making his first start in 40 appearances for Portland as a defender. Entering the match, Jewsbury had made 43 career starts as a defender during his time with the Kansas City Wizards. Jewsbury and Dynamo captain Brad Davis were college teammates at Saint Louis University for two seasons (2000-01). Timbers midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe and midfielder Sal Zizzo each logged an assist against Houston in 2011. Houston forward Will Bruin, a college teammate of Timbers midfielder Eric Alexander for one season, finished second to Nagbe in voting for the 2010 Hermann Trophy. Defender Mike Chabala and midfielder Lovel Palmer made their first return to Houston as Timbers players Aug. 14, 2011, starting and playing the full 90 minutes against their former club. Palmer played for Houston from 2010-11 and Chabala appeared in 47 matches over five-and-a-half seasons with the Dynamo from 2006-11. Timbers head coach John Spencer served as an assistant coach for Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear for nearly five season (2006-10), helping lead the team to back-to-back MLS Cups (2006, 2007) and four playoff appearances. Portland goalkeeper coach Mike Toshack spent two seasons in the same role on Kinnear's staff at Houston from 2007-08.

TEAM NEWS

Join the Timbers official viewing party Tuesday night at Thatcher's

Fans are invited to join the Timbers' official viewing party Tuesday night at Thatcher's in Portland, presented by ROOT SPORTS. Tuesday's viewing party is open to fans 21-years-old and older.

Additionally, the Timbers will be showing the Houston match at JELD-WEN Field prior to the Portland Timbers U-23s U.S. Open Cup match; gates open at 5:15 p.m. Beer specials and a $7 hot dog/soda combo will be available.

Thatcher's, located at 7906 SE Stark St. in Portland, is one of several local pubs and restaurants featured with the club's Pub Partner program. At the viewing party, fans can meet club mascot Timber Joey and enter to win a variety of prizes, including a team-autographed Timbers jersey. Food and drink specials will be available.

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.

Recognize a Stand Together All-Star for their work in your community

The Timbers' new Stand Together All-Star program recognizes fans who tirelessly give back to their community in a variety of ways. The monthly program honors these community all-stars with a special prize package, including a visit from a Timbers player, tickets to an upcoming match, a Stand Together t-shirt and an autographed Timbers item.

Nominations for the May Stand Together All-Star will be collected until Sunday, May 20; click here to fill out a nomination form. For more on April's Stand Together All-Star, click here.

Stand Together, the Timbers' community outreach platform, represents the relationship between the Timbers and their fans and signifies the strong commitment to supporting and standing by the community both on and off the field. Its mission is to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in our region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving.

Timbers U-23s open 2012 season Friday at JELD-WEN Field against Fraser Valley

After three weeks of preseason training, the Portland Timbers U-23s kick off their fourth Premier Development League (PDL) campaign on Friday as they play host to Fraser Valley Mariners FC at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Tickets for the Timbers U-23s' 2012 season opener will be available at the JELD-WEN Field box office starting at 10 a.m. on Friday. Tickets are priced $5 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under.

The Timbers U-23s' season opener kicks off a stretch of three games in nine days to open the campaign. Click here for more information on the Timbers U-23s' 2012 season.

Timbers U-23s open 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play May 15 at JELD-WEN Field

The Timbers U-23s, the development team for the MLS Timbers, play host to PSA Elite of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) in the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 15, at JELD-WEN Field at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Click here for more on the U.S. Open Cup matchup.

Tickets for the Timbers U-23s' U.S. Open Cup match are $7 and are available for purchase through the JELD-WEN Field box office and Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

Prior to kickoff, the Timbers match against the Houston Dynamo will be shown live on the video wall at JELD-WEN Field; gates open at 5:15 p.m.

The winner of the Timbers U-23s' first-round matchup will travel to face the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the second round of the tournament Tuesday, May 22, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC; kickoff is set for 4:07 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers loan forward Bright Dike to L.A. Blues

On Tuesday, the Timbers announced that forward Bright Dike has joined the L.A. Blues of USL PRO on a season-long loan. As part of the agreement, the Timbers may recall Dike from his loan at any time.

Dike, 25, will be available for selection for the Blues' road matches this weekend, starting Friday against the Dayton Dutch Lions. Dike has started three MLS Reserve League games for the Timbers in 2012, scoring two goals.

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.

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 Tuesdays 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 10, 2012


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