MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on September 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers play host to rival Seattle Sounders FC in a Cascadia Cup matchup Saturday at JELD-WEN Field in a nationally televised match on NBC at 12:30 p.m. (Pacific).

In addition to Saturday's national television broadcast, local radio broadcasts will be available on 101.1 FM KXL and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Prior to kickoff, the Timbers will recognize Portland native Galen Rupp, a silver medalist in the 10,000 meters at the London 2012 Olympics. A track and field standout at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Rupp starred as a cross country and 10,000-meter runner at the University of Oregon during his collegiate career.

The Timbers currently sit in first place in the Cascadia Cup standings with seven points (2-0-1) from three matches. Seattle sits in second place (1-1-1, 4pts) and Vancouver in third (0-2-2, 2pts). With a win Saturday, the Timbers would clinch their third Cascadia Cup, a supporter-based derby contested between the Timbers, Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and their first since joining MLS in 2011. Seattle is the current holder of the cup.

The Timbers, coming off an extended break since a road loss to the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 5, play host to Sounders FC for the second time this season. Portland (7-14-6, 27pts) claimed a 2-1 win in the previous matchup on June 24 at JELD-WEN Field. The Timbers posted a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals by forward Kris Boyd and defender David Horst. Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson scored in the 58th minute to cut the lead to 2-1, but Portland held on in the final 30 minutes for its first win over Seattle in MLS play.

Sounders FC (13-6-8, 47pts) have lost just once in league play since falling to the Timbers in June and are unbeaten in their last four league games. Seattle beat Chivas USA 2-1 on Sept. 8 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Johnson scored both goals for Sounders FC, including the game-winning header in the 89th minute. Seattle currently sits in second place in the Western Conference.

TIMBERS GAME NOTES vs. SEATTLE

- Saturday will mark the fourth all-time MLS meeting between Portland and Seattle. The series is currently tied at 1-1-1 and all three previous meetings were also nationally televised.

- The upcoming match will be the 78th all-time meeting between two clubs dating back to 1975 and the original North American Soccer League. The Timbers are 20-17-2 all-time against the Sounders in Portland.

- The Timbers are unbeaten in Cascadia Cup matches this season, with a combined 2-0-1 record against Seattle and Vancouver. Portland is a two-time winner of the Cascadia Cup in 2009 and 2010.

- Saturday will be the third consecutive MLS match played between Portland and Seattle at JELD-WEN Field. The two sides conclude the 2012 season series Oct. 7 in Seattle.

- The Timbers are unbeaten in their last three home games (2-0-1) and are 3-0-0 in afternoon home matches at JELD-WEN Field in 2012.

- Timbers defender Steven Smith will be unavailable Saturday due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for caution accumulation.

- Defender Steve Purdy (El Salvador) and defenders/midfielders Lovel Palmer (Jamaica) and Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) will all be available for selection following their recent national team call-ups.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers to feature PTFCA's Big-Ass Sandwiches Saturday at JELD-WEN Field

Popular Portland food carts are joining in on the match-day experience at JELD-WEN Field. Big-Ass Sandwiches, a member of the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance, will serve its specialties on Saturday as the Timbers take on Seattle Sounders FC at JELD-WEN Field.

The Timbers have featured select food carts affiliated with the new Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA) at regular-season home games this season. Click here to learn more about Big-Ass Sandwiches.

Voting is underway on the Timbers' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PortlandTimbers for the final food carts to serve at the last two regular-season home matches on Sept. 29 and Oct. 27; voting ends Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

To learn more about the PTFCA, which is free to join, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/ptfca .

Portland's Darlington Nagbe receives Green Card, no longer occupies international slot

During the week, Timbers midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe received his Green Card and, as a result, will no longer occupy an international slot on the Timbers active roster. Nagbe was born in Monrovia, Liberia.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts nominated for MLS Save of the Week for Week 27

Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is up for MLS Save of the Week for Week 27. His first-half save on the right post against Colorado on Sept. 5 is one of five nominees; click here to view the nominees. Voting ends Thursday night.

Ricketts recently won MLS Save of the Week in Week 25.

Vote for Nagbe to be on the cover of FIFA Soccer 13

EA Sports and MLSsoccer.com have teamed up to create custom covers for the new video game FIFA 13. Three players, along with the No. 1 player on MLSsoccer.com's 24 Under 24 list, will be featured on a downloadable cover for FIFA 13, which is set for release on Sept. 27.

Portland's Darlington Nagbe is one of just 19 players on the ballot. Winners will be announced on Monday, Sept. 17.

Timbers Reserves to play final game of MLS Reserve League season Sunday

On Sunday, the Timbers Reserves will play their final match of the 2012 MLS Reserve League season as they play host to the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves at 2 p.m. (Pacific) at JELD-WEN Field. Tickets, priced at $10, are available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office.

The Timbers Reserves are coming off a 4-0 loss to the LA Galaxy Reserves on Monday. Midfielder Landon Donovan and forward Pat Noonan each recorded a goal and an assist to help the Galaxy Reserves to victory at The Home Depot Center.

Porter, No. 9 Akron set to host tournament this weekend

Caleb Porter, recently appointed the Timbers head coach for the 2013 season, and the ninth-ranked Akron Zips play host the University of Akron tournament this weekend, also featuring No. 10 St. John's, No. 11 South Florida and Butler.

On Friday, Akron (3-1-1, 10pts) will play St. John's in a nationally televised match on FOX Soccer at 4 p.m. (Pacific). The Zips will then take on South Florida on Sunday; kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). Click here for more info on the tournament.

Akron is coming off its first loss of the season last Sunday, a 3-1 defeat to No. 17 Notre Dame in the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament.

Kicking+Screening Film Festival in Portland for rivalry week

After stops in New York City, Amsterdam, London, India and other places around the world, the Kicking+Screening Film Festival comes to Portland this week. The festival, which aims to bring together both soccer and film lovers, is in town for a special three-day series of events that revolve around the theme of rivalry - a perfect prelude to the Cascadia Cup clash between Portland and Seattle on Saturday.

On Thursday, Timbers forward Mike Fucito will be a member of a panel following the screening of a documentaries on soccer rivalries at Urban Studio, located at 935 NW Davis St., in downtown Portland; the event starts at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Palmer, Purdy, Wallace all contribute in World Cup qualifying

Midfielder Lovel Palmer (Jamaica), defender Steve Purdy (El Salvador) and midfielder/defender Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) each represented their respective national teams in recent CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Palmer and Jamaica defeated the U.S. National Team 2-1 on Sept. 7, but fell to the Americans 1-0 on Sept. 11. Palmer started both matches for Jamaica. Purdy played the full 90 for El Salvador in a 2-2 draw with Guyana on Sept. 7, and was on the match-day roster for La Selecta for the return match on Sept. 11. Wallace was a second-half substitute for Costa Rica in both matches against Mexico on Sept. 7 and Sept. 11.

Join the "Friends of Jimmy Conway" team in the Walk to End Alzheimer's Sept. 23

Led by NASL Timbers standout and current Timbers Alumni Ambassador Mick Hoban, a "Friends of Jimmy Conway" team is set to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sunday, Sept. 23 in support of NASL Timbers captain and Timbers Ring of Honor member Jimmy Conway, who has been diagnosed with trauma-induced dementia.

The walk will be held at Portland International Raceway at 11 a.m. To date, the "Friends of Jimmy Conway" team has raised over $1,000.

Dike named USL PRO All-League Second Team

Timbers forward Bright Dike was recently named to the USL PRO All-League Second Team. He recorded six goals and two assists over 10 games with the L.A. Blues while on loan with the club from May to July 10. Click here to view the entire USL PRO All-League teams.

Since being recalled in July, Dike has scored two goals, including his first MLS career game-winner Aug. 31 Colorado, in five games with the Timbers this season.

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 Fletcher Johnson, "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 September 13, 2012


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