MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 23, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers take 10-game unbeaten streak on the road against D.C. United

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers, on an MLS-club record 10-match unbeaten streak, face a second straight road match Saturday as they visit D.C. United at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.; kickoff is 4 p.m. (Pacific).

The Timbers' only matchup against United during the regular season will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS, with live radio broadcasts available on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

A 10-man Portland side earned a 2-2 draw on the road against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 18 at BC Place to extend its club-record unbeaten streak to 10 games; Portland's unbeaten run is also the longest in MLS this season. The Timbers tallied two of their MLS-leading 16 second-half goals against Whitecaps FC, including the equalizer in the 84th minute by forward Jose Valencia, to remain the only club in MLS that is unbeaten away from home in 2013.

The Timbers (4-1-7, 19pts), sitting in third place in the Western Conference, are unbeaten in their last seven road fixtures dating back to the 2012 season. Portland is tied for the best road winning percentage (0.583) in MLS and has scored 10 goals on the road, which is second-most in the league behind Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls tied with 11. Six of the Timbers' next nine league games will take place on the road.

Portland heads to RFK Stadium to face D.C. United (1-8-2, 5pts) for just the second time since joining MLS in 2011. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw that featured a combined 48 shots on Oct. 19, 2011. The Timbers are 0-1-2 in the all-time MLS series against United, a series that has seen three penalty kicks in three games. They last met Sept. 29, 2012, at JELD-WEN Field, with Portland forward Bright Dike scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw.

United snapped a seven-match losing streak on May 19 in a 1-1 draw against Sporting Kansas City at RFK Stadium and gave the club its first point since March 16. D.C. United opened the 2013 campaign with a 1-1-1 record, including a win over Real Salt Lake on March 9 and a shutout against the Red Bulls on the road in a scoreless draw on March 16, but overall is winless in its last nine matches.

TEAM NEWS

Join the Timbers viewing party Saturday at Mad Greek Deli

Fans are invited to join the Timbers viewing party Saturday at Mad Greek Deli in Portland, presented by ROOT SPORTS and Bushmills, to watch the Timbers take on D.C. United at 4 p.m. (Pacific). The viewing party is open to fans of all ages, and f ood and drink specials will be offered throughout the match.

Fans at Mad Greek Deli, located at 1740 E. Burnside in Portland, will have the opportunity to enter to win a 2013 team-autographed Timbers secondary jersey, Timbers tickets, a ROOT SPORTS gift basket and other Timbers items as well as participate in Timbers trivia for additional prizes. Mad Greek Deli also will be showing the UEFA Champions League final earlier in the day on Saturday.

Timbers to play host to Wilmington Hammerheads in third round of 2013 U.S. Open Cup

The Timbers enter the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the third round and will play host to the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL PRO at JELD-WEN Field on Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

The U.S. Open Cup match against Wilmington is included as part of Timbers full-season ticket packages as Exhibition B. Single-game tickets, starting at $15, are available for purchase through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com

The 2013 U.S. Open Cup started with 68 teams, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). The tournament includes clubs, both professional and amateur, from across the U.S. soccer landscape; all Division I, II and III clubs affiliated with U.S. Soccer participate in the tournament proper. The U.S. Open Cup, a single-elimination tournament, has crowned a champion for 99 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Click here for more on the U.S. Open Cup.

Timbers, Thorns FC launch new online auction site to benefit Stand Together

The Timbers and Portland Thorns FC on Wednesday launched a new online auction website, featuring autographed memorabilia, game-worn gear and one-of-a-kind game-day experiences, with proceeds benefitting the clubs' community outreach platform Stand Together and the Portland Timbers Community Fund. Click here to view the items currently up for bid.

Stand Together supports local nonprofit organizations focusing on youth programs related to sport, education, fitness and the environment. The Stand Together mission is to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving and is supported in part by adidas, Alaska Airlines, JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, Burgerville, and PGE.

Timbers sign defender Rauwshan McKenzie

On Wednesday, the Timbers announced the signing of defender Rauwshan McKenzie for the remainder of the 2013 season. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

McKenzie, 26, joins the Timbers after making 20 appearances for Chivas USA during the 2012 season, recording one assist. Drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the fourth round (53rd overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, McKenzie played two seasons in Kansas City before signing with Real Salt Lake in 2010.

Timbers face English club Norwich City FC in friendly July 24 at JELD-WEN Field

The Timbers will play host to English Premier League club Norwich City FC in an international exhibition on Wednesday, July 24, at JELD-WEN Field at 8 p.m. (Pacific). Norwich City will visit the Rose City during its preseason tour to the United States.

Tickets for the match are included as part of Timbers full-season ticket packages as Exhibition C. Single-game tickets start at $15, and are currently available for purchase at the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Norwich City visits Portland during a three-stop, preseason tour along the West Coast, which will begin in California, where the club will play an exhibition in Sacramento on July 18 and a friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 20. For more information on Norwich City, click here .

Timbers to play host to Mexico's Monarcas Morelia in friendly July 3

The Timbers will play host to Mexican first-division club Monarcas Morelia in an international friendly Wednesday, July 3, at JELD-WEN Field at 8 p.m. (Pacific) in the Timbers' inaugural "Copa Verde." Click here for more on Monarcas and about Copa Verde.

Tickets, starting at $15, are available for purchase through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com .

In "Copa Verde" (Green Cup), the Timbers have established a new annual friendly competition in which the club will face a first-division side from Mexico. Copa Verde signifies the sustainability of the Timbers' local outreach programs and initiatives through "Somos Timbers," an outreach platform focused on Hispanic youth development, education and health in the greater-Portland area. A portion of the proceeds from Copa Verde benefit the Mexican Consulate of Portland's IME Becas program and scholarships.

Tickets for CONCACAF Gold Cup are on sale

Tickets for the for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage doubleheader, featuring the United States, Belize, Costa Rica and Cuba men's national teams, on Tuesday, July 9, at JELD-WEN Field are on sale.

Gold Cup tickets, which will allow entry into both matches, start at $25 and are currently on sale through the JELD-WEN Field box office and online at www.JELD-WENField.com .

The Group C matchups at JELD-WEN Field will pit Costa Rica and Cuba at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), and Belize against the United States at 8 p.m. (Pacific) at the historic, downtown Portland venue. Click here for more on the Gold Cup games at JELD-WEN Field.

Timbers invite fans to "˜Spread the Love'

The Timbers are inviting fans to nominate deserving people in the community to receive free match tickets through the club's "Spread the Love" campaign. Through special nominations by fans at www.SpreadtheLovePTFC.com and the work of 107 Timbers ambassadors, fans who have not attended a Timbers match are getting their first experiences at JELD-WEN Field. Fans will be selected prior to each home match throughout the season, and will receive a special "Spread the Love" welcome packet, which includes a custom scarf, tickets to a Timbers match, a Timbers Reserves match and a Portland Thorns FC match, all in a Timbers tote bag. Visit www.SpreadtheLovePTFC.com to learn more and to nominate a deserving fan today.

Timbers launch Rose City Rewards for club's season ticket holders

The Timbers have launched Rose City Rewards, a special program available to the club's season ticket holders through their Season Ticket Card. Now, season tickets holders can accrue points to achieve different rewards levels and be invited to participate in one-of-a-kind experiences, such as tours of the adidas Timbers Training Center and other exclusive Rose City Rewards events. Points can be gained by attending matches at JELD-WEN Field, watching away matches on the club's broadcast partners or by watching the club's weekly television show, "Timbers in 30," each Friday on KPTV FOX 12. Loyalty points can then be used to bid on exclusive items.

To join the Timbers Season Ticket Waiting List, contact the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com .

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

This week's episode of "Timbers in 30" will air Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12, and will feature defender David Horst as the in-studio guest.

Throughout the season, "Timbers in 30" will offer inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provided analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers coaches and players. 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, airs every Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. (Pacific) on flagship station 750 The Game. "Talk Timbers," provides team and league news as well as interviews with Timbers coaches and players during the season, and will also feature regular updates on Portland Thorns FC.

Fans can submit questions, provide comments or simply follow the conversation on the show on Twitter with the hashtag #TalkTimbers.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com . Available podcasts can be downloaded at www.portlandtimbers.com/timbers-podcast-network .

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 23, 2013


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