MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on August 2, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers play host to FC Dallas on Sunday at JELD-WEN Field

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers conclude a stretch of 11 consecutive matches against Western Conference opponents Sunday when they play host to FC Dallas at JELD-WEN Field at 4 p.m. (Pacific) in a nationally televised match on NBC Sports Network.

Sunday's match against FC Dallas will also feature live radio broadcasts on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

FC Dallas (5-11-7, 22pts) visits the Timbers (5-12-4, 19pts) for the only time during the regular season to wrap up a three-game, regular-season series between the two clubs. Portland has played FC Dallas twice on the road this season, including a 1-1 draw on March 17. Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe scored the equalizing goal for the Timbers just after halftime to help the club claim an early-season point on the road. The Timbers visited FC Dallas Stadium less than two weeks ago on July 21, in a 5-0 loss to FC Dallas.

The Timbers are 1-2-1 in the all-time MLS series against FC Dallas, including a 1-0-0 mark at JELD-WEN Field. FC Dallas last visited the Rose City on April 17, 2011, with the Timbers claiming a 3-2 win, with midfielder Jack Jewsbury recording a goal and an assist and midfielder Kalif Alhassan registering two assists.

Following Sunday's match, the Timbers have an extended break in play and won't face their next opponent, Toronto FC, until Wednesday, Aug. 15, at BMO Field.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. FC Dallas

- Sunday's match is the first of three at home for the Timbers in August. The Timbers compiled a 3-2-1 record during the month of August in 2011.

- Sunday marks the fifth all-time MLS meeting between the Timbers and FC Dallas. It will be the first visit by FC Dallas to JELD-WEN Field since April 2011.

- The Timbers have sold out 28 consecutive home MLS matches at JELD-WEN Field.

- The equalizer by Darlington Nagbe in the Timbers' 1-1 draw at FC Dallas on March 17 was his first career goal against FC Dallas.

- The Timbers are 2-0-0 in day matches at JELD-WEN Field this season, defeating the Chicago Fire, 2-1 on May 20, and Seattle Sounders FC, 2-1 on June 24.

- Portland has just two losses in its last eight league matches at JELD-WEN Field, posting a 4-2-2 record at home since April 21.

- Midfielder Kalif Alhassan has recorded two of his eight career MLS assists against FC Dallas, which leads Timbers players in the all-time MLS series against FC Dallas. Both assists came in the club's 3-2 win over FC Dallas on April 17, 2011, at JELD-WEN Field.

- With his next goal, forward Kris Boyd will tie Kenny Cooper for the club's all-time MLS mark for goals scored in a single season (8).

- Goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 50th consecutive league start for the Timbers against Chivas USA, becoming the second player in Timbers MLS history to appear in 50 games.

- Timbers midfielder Eric Alexander and defender Steve Purdy have each played for FC Dallas previously in their MLS careers.

- Timbers Homegrown Player Brent Richards made his first MLS start in match against Chivas USA on July 28 and was named honorable mention on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 21.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers to launch new food cart alliance offerings Sunday

Popular Portland food carts will join in on the match-day experience at JELD-WEN Field starting Sunday, as the Timbers are set to feature select food carts affiliated with the new Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA) at remaining regular-season home games.

Determined by a fan vote, Hawaiian food cart 808 Grinds is the first of four featured PTFCA food carts to serve its items and will be on hand Sunday at JELD-WEN Field as the Timbers play host to FC Dallas at 4 p.m. (Pacific).

The other PTFCA carts voted to prepare their specialties at upcoming Timbers matches are The Frying Scotsman (Aug. 25), Pepper Box (Aug. 31) and Big-Ass Sandwiches (Sept. 15). Click here for additional info on each of the upcoming featured PTFCA carts.

To learn more about the PTFCA, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/ptfca.

New Zealand, Gleeson finish group play in London 2012 Olympics

New Zealand bowed out of the London 2012 Olympics men's soccer tournament on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of gold-medal favorites Brazil left the Oly Whites with a 0-2-1 record at the bottom of Group C. Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson started New Zealand's first two pre-Olympic warm-up matches against Japan on July 11 and South Korea on July 14, but a groin injury sustained against the Koreans kept Gleeson from seeing action in the Oly Whites' second consecutive Olympic appearance.

Stand Together Snapshot: Timbers active in the community despite busy July schedule

The month of July was the Timbers' busiest of the 2012 season, with seven games in total. Despite their on-field schedule, coaches, players and staff continued to make time for numerous community activities, projects and initiatives.

Among the many activities last month, the Timbers helped raise money for Mercy Corps through their annual Lose the Boot auction, the club awarded $37,000 in summer grants to nine local nonprofits through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF) and Portland players David Horst and Eric Alexander teamed up with players from Aston Villa for a very special visit to Randall Children's hospital. Click here for a snapshot of the Timbers' work in the community last month.

The Timbers' community outreach platform, Stand Together, also launched its Twitter account last month. Fans can stay updated on the club's community involvement and activities now at @PTStandTogether.

Timbers U-23s forward Mark Sherrod garners PDL honors

Portland Timbers U-23s forward Mark Sherrod capped a successful 2012 Premier Development League campaign, being named to the 2012 PDL All-League Team and to the PDL All-Western Conference Team this week. Click here to read more.

Sherrod, 21, finished the regular season as the Western Conference's leading scorer with 10 goals and three assists for 23 points. He paced a Timbers U-23s attack that shared the Northwest Division lead in goals scored at 35 over 16 regular-season games. Sherrod helped the Timbers U-23s to a second-place finish in the Northwest Division and reach the Western Conference semifinals in 2012.

Additionally, Sherrod was named one of three finalists for 2012 PDL MVP and Rookie of the Year.

Forward Bright Dike's hat trick lead Timbers Reserves to 4-2 win over Chivas USA Reserves

Forward Bright Dike's hat trick guided the Portland Timbers Reserves to a 4-2 win over the Chivas USA Reserves in MLS Reserve League play at JELD-WEN Field on July 29. Dike's three goals Sunday helped snap the Timbers Reserves (3-3-1, 10 pts) three-match winless streak and move to within a point of the Chivas USA Reserves in first place in the MLS Reserve League West Division.

Dikes' goals came in the 27th, 28th and 56th minutes of the match and midfielder Sal Zizzo also contributed a goal in the 37th minute. Click here for a full match recap. The Timbers Reserves play host to the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves in their next match Sunday, Aug. 26, at JELD-WEN Field.

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" focuses on inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provides 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 August 2, 2012


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