MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 17, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - On the heels of back-to-back shutouts, the Portland Timbers return home to play host to the Chicago Fire on Sunday at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific). Sunday's match, presented by ProGrass, opens a run of four games in nine days across all competition for the Timbers.

Sunday's contest will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS and nationally in Spanish on GalavisiÃ"n, with radio broadcasts airing on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

The last of five straight games against Eastern Conference opponents for Portland, Sunday's match features a Chicago side (4-2-3, 15pts) that is currently in the midst of a three-game unbeaten run and has lost just once in its last six matches. Led by forward Dominic Oduro's four goals, the Fire most recently beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on May 12 and have won two straight road games.

The Timbers (2-5-3, 9pts), who have recorded shutouts in three of their last four matches, look to build upon their two-game unbeaten streak against a club they had success against last season. The Timbers won both games against the Fire in 2011, earning their first MLS victory in the opening match at JELD-WEN Field against Chicago on April 14. Portland earned its first road win as an MLS side in Chicago on July 16.

Following Sunday's match, the Timbers play host to Spanish club Valencia CF in an international friendly at JELD-WEN Field on Wednesday, May 23, before welcoming Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Portland on Saturday, May 26. Portland then enters Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play in the third round on Tuesday, May 29.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. CHICAGO FIRE

- Sunday marks the third meeting all-time between the Timbers and Fire; Portland leads the overall series 2-0-0.

- The Timbers' first MLS win came against the Fire in the club's 2011 home opener on April 14, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field with a 4-2 victory. Forward Jorge Perlaza scored two goals in that match.

- Portland also recorded its first MLS road win against Chicago on July 16, 2011. Captain Jack Jewsbury converted a 25th-minute penalty kick and Troy Perkins made seven saves in the 1-0 win.

- With back-to-back shutouts, the Timbers are one clean sheet away from tying the club's MLS record of three straight shutouts set last season (Aug. 24-Sept. 16, 2011).

- The Timbers have earned points from three of their last four games.

- The Timbers played the Houston Dynamo to a scoreless draw earlier in the week, marking the club's second weekday match of the 2012 campaign and the club's first MLS match played on a Tuesday.

- The Timbers are 1-2-1 as an MLS club at home on Sundays. In 2011, the Timbers scored 10 goals over four Sunday home matches at JELD-WEN Field, scoring the most of any day of the week.

TIMBERS PLAYER NOTES vs. CHICAGO FIRE

- Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 39th consecutive start for the Timbers on May 15 at Houston. Perkins' streak is the fourth-longest among active MLS goalkeepers for consecutive starts.

- Perkins' seven saves against Houston matched a Timbers' MLS record for saves in a single match, which he set against the Fire on July 16, 2011. With the shutout against the Dynamo, Perkins stretched his run of individual shutout play to 338 minutes; the club's MLS record for consecutive minutes of shutout play is 342 minutes. The last goal allowed by specifically by Perkins was at the LA Galaxy on April 14.

- Midfielder Diego Chara made his 22nd straight start for the Timbers on Tuesday, continuing to stretch his Timbers MLS record for starts by a field player.

- Midfielder Sal Zizzo made his 2012 debut against Houston, entering the match as a sub in the 60th minute. It was Zizzo's first minutes with the first team since recovering from ACL surgery in his left knee last October.

- Striker Kris Boyd was issued his fourth caution of the season in the match against Houston.

- Defender Futty Danso will serve a one-game, league-imposed suspension on Sunday for an encounter with the Dynamo's Calen Carr on Tuesday in the 82nd minute.

- Midfielder Rodney Wallace and Fire fullback Gonzalo Segares are teammates with the Costa Rica National Team.

- Colombian players Diego Chara, Jorge Perlaza and Hanyer Mosquera all played against Fire midfielder Rafael Robayo in Colombia's Liga PostobÃ"n during Robayo's time with Millonarios FC.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers enter U.S. Open Cup in third round on May 29

U.S. Soccer announced possible pairings for the third round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. The Timbers will face the winner of the second-round matchup between Cal FC (U.S. Adult Soccer Association) and the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO) in the third round on Tuesday, May 29.

With a victory by Wilmington, the Timbers will travel to take on the Hammerheads at Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington, N.C. at 4 p.m. (Pacific). A win by Cal FC and the USASA club will travel to the Rose City to play the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Cal FC and the Hammerheads meet Tuesday, May 22, in Wilmington at 4 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers Brent Richards, Ryan Kawulok and Timber Joey to participate in St. Baldrick's event Saturday

Timbers players Brent Richards and Ryan Kawulok will join assistant coach Cameron Knowles, mascot Timber Joey and alumni ambassadors Scot Thompson and John Bain at the Portland/Vancouver 10th-Annual St. Baldrick's Event at Oaks Park in Portland on Saturday. Bain, Thompson and Timber Joey will have their heads shaved at 1 p.m. in support of St. Baldrick's Foundation's fundraising efforts for childhood cancer research.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Saving more than Goals: Joe Bendik helping nephew fight Cystic-Fibrosis

The Timbers are involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives, some through the team's community relations platform Stand Together while others are personal passion projects of the players.

Finding a cure for Cystic-Fibrosis is a cause near and dear to Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik. In order to help his young nephew Gavin, Bendik has spent his free time and resources setting up a donation bank through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's "Great Strides" program. To date, Bendik has raised $18,657 to help fund crucial research to help fight CF.

And Bendik isn't done yet, targeting this weekend as another opportunity to raise money through the Great Strides walk at Oaks Park on Saturday. To learn more Bendik's efforts or to learn more about the efforts to fund CF research, click here.

Portland's Nagbe, Timbers Army and JELD-WEN Field prominently featured in new adidas TV ad

Timbers forward/midfielder Darlington Nagbe, JELD-WEN Field and the club's supporters group, the Timbers Army, are all prominently featured in the new television ad for adidas' "Smart Soccer" MLS campaign; click here to watch the ad online.

The spot will make its television premier Saturday during the highly anticipate UEFA Champions League final.

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.

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; click here to fill out a nomination form.

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.

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 fall to PSA Elite 3-1 in first round of U.S. Open Cup

A brace by forward Davis Paul guided the PSA Elite to a 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers U-23s in a first-round match of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 15, before 1,524 fans at JELD-WEN Field. With the loss, the Timbers U-23s were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup.

The Timbers U-23s return to Premier Development League play Saturday as they play host to the Victoria Highlanders at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate.

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.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 17, 2012


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