MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on September 5, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers open the month of September by playing host to Toronto FC on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is 8 p.m. (Pacific). The Timbers play three of their four matches during the month of September at home.

Saturday's match against Toronto FC will be televised live on KPTV and in Spanish on EstrellaTV, with radio broadcasts available on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

The Timbers (9-5-12, 39pts) enter the matchup against Toronto FC (4-12-10, 22pts) tied for fourth in the tightly contested Western Conference with the Colorado Rapids. The Timbers are just four points back of the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC tied in second place.

Portland ranks among the top goal-scoring teams in MLS and also rank among league leaders in fewest goals allowed.

The Timbers return home after consecutive road matches, and will face their final Eastern Conference opponent during the regular season Saturday. Portland is unbeaten in its last 10 regular-season matches (7-0-3) at JELD-WEN Field, and the club's overall home record (7-1-4) is among the best in MLS.

Saturday's match will mark just the fourth meeting between the Timbers and Toronto FC in the all-time MLS series between the two clubs. The clubs last played Aug. 15, 2012, to a 2-2 draw at BMO Field in Toronto. Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe provided the 82nd-minute equalizer to help the Timbers earn a point on the road. The Timbers and Toronto FC have played to draws in each of their last two matchups, and Toronto FC's last visit to Portland was on July, 30, 2011.

Toronto FC currently sits in ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and heads back out on the road for a third time in four games. The Reds have recorded a pair of 1-1 draws in their last two regular-season matches, against D.C. United on Aug. 24 and New England Revolution on Aug. 30, and posted a 1-2-2 record overall during the month of August. Forward Robert Earnshaw and midfielder Jonathan Osorio lead Toronto FC in scoring with six and five goals, respectively.

Additionally, the Timbers Reserves resume MLS Reserve League play Sunday as they play host to the Real Salt Lake Reserves at JELD-WEN Field at 6 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets are available for purchase at the stadium box office and online at www.portlandtimbers.com.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers acquire midfielder/defender Brad Ring in trade with San Jose

On Thursday, the Timbers acquired midfielder/defender Brad Ring from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for a 2014 draft pick; the pick will be Portland's lowest draft pick in 2014. Click here for the complete announcement.

Additionally, the club announced that defender Ryan Miller will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left tibia in the coming weeks. He is expected to be out for four months and will be placed on the season-ending injury list.

PTFCA member Nong's Khao Man Gai to serve at JELD-WEN Field this weekend

Nong's Khao Man Gai, a member of the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA), will serve its specialties Saturday at JELD-WEN Field for the Timbers match against Toronto FC.

On the menu, Nong's Khao Man Gai will serve its signature chicken and rice dish with their ginger-soybean chili sauce as well as fried chicken wings smothered in Nong's sweet chili glaze at the Soccer City Grill concession stand. For more information on the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/PTFCA.

Three Timbers Players Called up for International Duty

The Timbers announced Monday that forward Ryan Johnson, defender Alvas Powell and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts have been called up by the Jamaica National Team for upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Friday, Sept. 6 and Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Jamaica will face Panama on Sept. 6, at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, Panama; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). The Raggae Boyz then play host to Costa Rica on Sept. 10, at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica, at 5 p.m. (Pacific). All three players will miss the club's regular-season match against Toronto FC on Saturday.

Timbers Reserves square off against Real Salt Lake Reserves Sunday at JELD-WEN Field

The Timbers Reserves and Real Salt Lake Reserves finish a home-and-home series in MLS Reserve League play Sunday at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets for the match can be purchased at the JELD-WEN Field box office or online.

The Timbers Reserves (4-4-2, 14pts) and Real Salt Lake Reserves (5-3-3, 18pts) recently faced off at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, on Aug. 31. Real Salt Lake Reserves forward Devon Sandoval scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 win over the Timbers Reserves.

The Timbers Reserves play three of their final four MLS Reserve League matches at JELD-WEN Field, beginning with Sunday's match. The Timbers Reserves also play host to the Colorado Rapids Reserves on Sept. 21 and the Seattle Sounders FC Reserves on Oct. 14 at JELD-WEN Field.

Timbers Pre-Academy/ODP teams participate in Labor Day Cup tournament in Washington

Two Portland Timbers Pre-Academy/ODP teams traveled to Tukwila, Wash., this past weekend to compete in the Labor Day Cup Tournament at the Starfire Sports Complex. The '98 and '99 Boys Pre-Academy/ODP teams posted a combined record of 3-1-2 against elite youth club and other pre-academy teams from the region.

Timbers, AC Portland partner with Pointstreak 5050 on new in-game raffle, fundraiser

The Timbers and AC Portland have teamed with Pointstreak 5050 on an innovative platform to raise funds for the Portland community and region through a new, electronic 50/50 raffle. The Pointstreak 5050 system enables tickets to be sold every league match at JELD-WEN Field through electronic devices.

Fans have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets from the time gates open until the 60th minute, and jackpot totals will be displayed in real time on the scoreboard and at the AC Portland 5050 kiosk located near Gate 4. One winning ticket will be selected and announced at the 70th minute of the match with the winner taking home half of the evening's net proceeds. The remaining proceeds benefit AC Portland and Portland Timbers Community Fund.

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, with Timbers goalkeeper Milos Kocic 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 September 5, 2013


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