MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on June 21, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers play host to Sounders FC in Cascadia clash Sunday on ESPN

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers play host to rival Seattle Sounders FC in a Cascadia Cup clash Sunday at JELD-WEN Field in a nationally televised game on ESPN; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific).

In addition to the ESPN telecast, the Portland-Seattle match will be broadcast locally on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Sunday's match will mark the 77th all-time meeting between the Timbers and Sounders FC, a rivalry that dates back to 1975 in the original North American Soccer League. Portland and Seattle renewed one of the longest rivalries in North American soccer last season in Major League Soccer.

The Timbers (3-6-4, 13pts) face Sounders FC (7-4-4, 25pts) for the first of three regular-season matches this season and the first of two meetings at JELD-WEN Field. Sunday's fixture counts towards the Cascadia Cup, a fan-based derby between the Timbers, Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

In 2011, the Timbers earned a 1-1 draw in the first ever MLS meeting between the Cascadia rivals May 14, 2011, with defender Futty Danso heading home the equalizing goal at CenturyLink Field. In the return match in the Rose City, Sounders FC scored twice in the final 20 minutes to log a 3-2 win over the Timbers on July 10, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field.

Sunday's match is the third in a run of 11 consecutive matches for the Timbers against Western Conference opponents.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. SOUNDERS FC

- Sunday's match is the third MLS meeting between Portland and Seattle, and the 77th all-time since the rivalry began as opponents in the NASL in 1975.

- The Timbers are 0-1-1 against Sounders FC in the MLS series between the two rivals. All seven goals scored between the two clubs in the series have been scored in the second half - five of those goals were scored in the July 10, 2011, meeting at JELD-WEN Field.

- The Timbers own a 19-17-2 all-time record against Sounders FC at home.

- Portland was handed its first loss in its last five league matches in a 1-0 road defeat against the LA Galaxy on June 17 at The Home Depot Center.

- Sounders FC face a second game this week after playing Sporting KC to a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Wednesday. The draw stretched Seattle's winless run to six games, matching the longest winless stretch in the club's MLS history.

- Vancouver Whitecaps FC currently leads the race for the 2012 Cascadia Cup with two points, earning 1-1 draws against Portland and Seattle earlier this season. The Timbers and Sounders FC are tied with one point each in the cup standings.

- The Timbers won the Cascadia Cup in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. The Cascadia Cup was first started in 2004, when all three Northwest teams competed in United Soccer Leagues.

- The Timbers have sold out 24 consecutive league matches at JELD-WEN Field.

- Sunday marks the first of four afternoon matches for the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field during the regular season, two of which will be played against Seattle.

TIMBERS PLAYER NOTES vs. SOUNDERS FC

- Timbers forward Mike Fucito started his professional career with Sounders FC in 2009 and played his first three seasons with the club before being traded during the 2012 preseason to the Montreal Impact. He is the first player to suit up for both the Timbers and Sounders FC in the clubs' MLS era.

- Portland defender Futty Danso, who has played for the Timbers since 2009, has played in four competitive Portland-Seattle matches - more than any other active Timbers player. Danso played in both MLS contests last season and appeared in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches between the clubs during the 2009 and 2010 tournaments.

- Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero has recorded two goals and an assist over the two previous MLS meetings against the Timbers.

- Timbers forward Kris Boyd has factored in each of the club's last six goals scored, scoring three and assisting on Eric Brunner's goal on May 20. He also initiated plays that led to own goals against Sporting Kansas City (April 21) and Chicago Fire (May 20).

- Portland captain Jack Jewsbury has played in six matches against Seattle in his career. He recorded an assist in two matches against Sounders FC last season.

- Seattle will be without midfielder Alvaro Fernandez on Sunday, who was shown a straight red card in second-half stoppage time of the club's match against Sporting KC on Wednesday.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers' Jake Gleeson named to New Zealand's Olympic squad

Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson has been named to New Zealand's 18-man roster for the London 2012 Olympics by New Zealand U-23 National Team head coach Neil Emblen.

Gleeson, 21, will join the New Zealand U-23 National Team on Monday, July 9, and remain with the team through its participation in the London 2012 Olympics. The "Oly Whites," one of 16 nations competing in the Olympic tournament, will compete in Group C against Belarus, Egypt and Brazil. New Zealand opens group play against Belarus on July 26 at City of Coventry Stadium.

New Zealand will also play three exhibitions leading up to the Olympics, traveling to Asia to take on Japan on July 11 and Republic of Korea on July 14. The New Zealand U-23 National Team will face United Arab Emirates on July 19 in its final preparation match.

Special Olympics Oregon Rose City Unity match to feature Timbers alumni, staff

Timbers alumni ambassadors Mick Hoban, Lee Morrison and Bernie Fagan and mascot Timber Joey highlight a list of participants joining Special Olympic athletes in the Rose City Unity Match as part of the Special Olympics Oregon Soccer Festival on Saturday at the adidas Village in Portland. Additionally, both adidas and Timbers staff members and prominent members of the local community and media will be participating in the special 7v7 match.

The Rose City Unity Match is one of several activities taking place during the Special Olympics Oregon Soccer Festival. The day will also feature the second-annual Special Olympics Cascadia Challenge, pitting Special Olympics Oregon Timbers against Special Olympics Washington Sounders in a 5v5 match from 1-2:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Fan voting for 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game underway; six Timbers on the ballot

Fan voting for the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 25 is currently underway. The 2012 MLS All-Stars will take on England's Chelsea FC on July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific ) on ESPN2.

The fan ballot, consisting of 114 MLS players selected by a panel of media members, features six Timbers players, including goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who ranks among league leaders in goalkeeper games played (13), goals-against average (1.10) and saves (39).

Fans can vote for their all-star selections online at MLSsoccer.com or by sending a player's last name via text message to 22442. Twitter voting runs this week until Friday evening. Click here for more on the MLS All-Star voting process and to cast a vote.

Timbers U-23s, Portland Rain help kickoff Cascadia weekend Friday

A full weekend of Cascadia soccer action begins Friday at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver, Wash., where the Portland Timbers U-23s and Portland Rain play host to a doubleheader against teams from Seattle.

The Timbers U-23s play host to Seattle Sounders U-23 at 7:30 p.m. in a matchup between two of the top teams in the Premier Development League's Northwest Division. The Rain take on Emerald City in a Women's Premier Soccer League match at 4 p.m.

Friday's doubleheader is the first of two this season for the Timbers U-23s and Rain. The two teams will play back-to-back matches again on Sunday, July 8, at Hare Field in Hillsboro, Ore.

Timbers participate in grand opening of new THPRD Fanno Creek Service Center

With an assist from the Timbers, the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) formally unveiled its new Fanno Creek Service Center, which includes the new adidas Timbers Training Center, in a grand-opening event on Wednesday.

The event included an autograph session with Timbers players Jake Gleeson and Mike Fucito, a scrimmage by the Portland Timbers U-23s, a youth soccer clinic for kids ages 8-12 and an appearance by Timber Joey.

The Fanno Creek Service Center is home base for THPRD's building, park, fleet and athletic field maintenance groups and provides office space for the district's maintenance, planning, and natural resources staffs. It includes a 90,000-square-foot building and more than 13 acres of land, which houses the Timbers' training complex.

Timbers U-23s, Rain announce partnership with Billups Worldwide

The Timbers announced a new partnership with Billups Worldwide, making the Lake Oswego, Ore., company the official presenting partner of the Portland Timbers U-23s and Portland Rain, an adidas Timbers Alliance club, through the 2013 season. Click here to read more about the partnership.

"We are excited to partner with the Timbers U-23s and the Rain, and to support two first-class development teams in our area," said Benjamin Billups, CEO of Billups Worldwide. "The Timbers continue to play a leading role in the development of soccer throughout the state, and we are thrilled to be a part of it."

Step out of the office and onto the pitch: Register for the 2012 Portland Timbers Corporate Cup

The 2012 Portland Timbers Corporate Cup this summer brings Northwest corporations together for soccer and corporate networking, all while raising money for Timbers community pillar partner Portland YouthBuilders. Registration for the three-part event concludes June 30, click here to register.

Corporate teams will play matches against other corporate teams, as well as participate in a mix-and-mingle social event. The 2012 Timbers Corporate Cup final will be held at JELD-WEN Field on Aug. 18. Click here for more information.

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 regularly 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 . Available podcasts can be downloaded at www.portlandtimbers.com/timbers-podcast-network .

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 21, 2012


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