MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

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


Timbers play host to Sounders FC in Leg 2 of conference semifinal Thursday

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers play host to Seattle Sounders FC in Leg 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific) on NBC Sports Network.

The Timbers have a 2-1 lead over Sounders FC in the two-game, aggregate-goal conference semifinal, following a road win at Seattle's CenturyLink Field over the weekend. The winner of the Portland-Seattle semifinal will advance to the Western Conference Championship and play the winner of the other conference semifinal series between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake; Leg 1 of the Western Conference Championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 10.

The first 15,000 fans at JELD-WEN Field on Thursday will receive a 2013 Timbers team photograph, provided by KeyBank. Thursday's match also will feature local radio broadcasts on FM News 101 KXL and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

Unbeaten in their last nine games between the regular season and playoffs, the Timbers captured their first road win against Sounders FC as an MLS side in the opening match of their playoff series. Ryan Johnson staked Portland to an early lead in the 15th minute and Darlington Nagbe provided the eventual game-winner in the 67th minute as both players tallied their first career MLS Cup Playoff goals in the 2-1 victory against Sounders FC in the club's first MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.

Portland returns home for its first MLS Cup Playoff match at JELD-WEN Field on Thursday. The Timbers posted the best home record in MLS during the regular season at 11-1-5, with a .794 winning percentage, and finished the regular season on a 15-game, home unbeaten streak at JELD-WEN Field.

The Timbers defense recorded five consecutive shutouts at home to end the regular season, and have not allowed a goal at JELD-WEN Field since Aug. 21. During the regular season, Portland set an MLS single-season record with 11 home shutouts and allowed just 11 goals at JELD-WEN Field.

The Timbers have earned a pair of wins and a draw in their four matchups against Sounders FC in 2013 between the regular season and playoffs; three of those matchups took place in Seattle. Portland has defeated Seattle in each of the last two meetings, including a 1-0 victory on Oct. 13, at JELD-WEN Field. The two rivals split the hard-fought, 2013 regular-season series, 1-1-1.

The Western Conference semifinal series marks the first playoff matchup between the Timbers and Sounders FC as MLS sides. The two Cascadia rivals have met on three previous occasions in their club history during the postseason, including in the Timbers' first playoff match as an NASL club on Aug. 12, 1975, in which Portland claimed a 2-1 win in overtime at Civic Stadium (now JELD-WEN Field) in Portland.

Making a fifth straight Western Conference semifinals appearance, Sounders FC visits JELD-WEN Field trailing the Timbers by a goal in the aggregate-goal series. Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso tallied in the 90th minute to pull one back for Sounders FC in a 2-1 loss to Portland in the first Leg at CenturyLink Field. Seattle will be without one of its leading scorers in forward Lamar Neagle on Thursday due to a one-game, league-imposed suspension for caution accumulation in the postseason. Sounders FC have advanced past the conference semifinal just once in five postseason appearances. Seattle, the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, reached the conference semifinals against the Timbers after defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the Western Conference knockout game on Oct. 30 at CenturyLink Field.

Overall, the Timbers ranked in the top three in MLS this season in goal-scoring with 54 goals and in fewest goals allowed at just 33 during the regular season. In 2013, the Timbers set new single-season MLS club records in several categories, including points (57), wins (14), goals, goal-differential (+21), shutouts (15), fewest losses (5) and fewest goals allowed - all of which ranked among MLS leaders. The club's 15 shutouts is tied for third-most in a single season in MLS history.

When compared to the club's 2012 totals, the Timbers had a 23-point improvement in points and a 43-goal improvement in goal differential, which ranks as the biggest turnaround in MLS history.

TEAM NEWS

2013 MLS Cup Playoffs: Conference Semifinals wrap up Wednesday, Thursday

The 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs continue this week with the final legs of the conference semifinal series in both the Western and Eastern Conferences. The conference championship series will begin this weekend. The schedules for the conference semifinals and championship are below; click here for a complete schedule through MLS Cup on Dec. 7.

Western Conference Semifinals

First Leg (Home teams listed first):

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - 2 Portland Timbers - POR leads series 2-1

LA Galaxy 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake - LA leads series 1-0

Second Leg (Home teams listed first):

Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy - Thurs., Nov. 7, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN2)

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC - Thurs., Nov. 7, 8 p.m. PT (NBCSN)

Eastern Conference Semifinals

First Leg (Home teams listed first):

New England Revolution 2 - 1 Sporting Kansas City - NE leads series 2-1

Houston Dynamo 2 - 2 New York Red Bulls - Series tied 2-2

Second Leg (Home teams listed first):

New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo - Wed., Nov. 6, 5 p.m. PT (UDN)

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution - Wed., Nov. 6, 6 p.m. PT (Local TV)

Conference Championships

First Leg (Home teams listed first):

Eastern Conference - Sat., Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m. PT (NBC; UDN; RDS2)

Western Conference - Sun., Nov. 10, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN; ESPN Deportes)

Second Leg (Home teams listed first):

Eastern Conference - Sat., Nov. 23, 4:30 p.m. PT (NBC SN, UDN, TSN2, RDS2)

Western Conference - Sun., Nov. 24, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN Deportes, RDS2)

Stumptown Dumplings to be featured food cart Thursday at JELD-WEN Field

A fan-favorite during the regular season, Stumptown Dumplings is the featured Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA) member for Thursday's MLS Cup Playoffs match at JELD-WEN Field. Stumptown Dumplings will be serving their chicken, pork and spinach steamed dumplings with a choice of their signature sauces and a side of edamame out of the Soccer City Grill concession stand.

For more information on the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance, visit www.portlandtimbers.com/PTFCA.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in running for Save of the Year

Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has made several highlight-reel saves during the regular season. He currently has two saves up for vote for MLS Save of the Year - both in Group A. Voting for saves in Group A closes Tuesday night; click here to cast a vote.

The 2013 Save of the Year voting is organized as a World Cup-style tournament, and it all culminates in the announcement of the Save of the Year on Thursday, Dec. 5. Just like in 2012, the award is decided from all 35 Save of the Week winners.

Both in Group A, Ricketts has a save from March 30 at Colorado against Shane O'Niell that won MLS Save of the Week in Week 5. He also has a diving save on a one-timed blast from FC Dallas' Jackson at the top right corner of the box from June 15 at JELD-WEN Field.

Four goals from Timbers players currently up for vote for 2013 MLS Goal of the Year

Currently, there are four goals from Timbers players up for vote in the first round of the race for AT&T MLS Goal of the Year. Click here to vote for goals by Kalif Alhassan (Group O), Darlington Nagbe (Group N) or Diego Valeri (Groups N & P) in their respective groups; polls close for these groups on Wednesday night.

Just like the last two years, the AT&T Goal of the Year competition will be decided from a field of 64 goals. The First Round will consist of 16 groups of four, with the top two vote-getters going through to the Second Round.

There are two Timbers goals in Group N. First, Nagbe's turnaround, game-winning goal from the 1-0 win over FC Dallas at JELD-WEN Field on June 15, which was named the Timbers 2013 Play of the Year. Valeri's stunning strike, taken between two defenders and off the post, against Chicago on June 8 is also in Group N.

In Group O is Alhassan's volley from the top of the box into the top right corner against Toronto FC on Sept. 7 at JELD-WEN Field.

Additionally, Valeri has a second goal this round, his first-class, chipped goal in the first half against Chivas USA in the regular-season finale on Oct. 26, is in Group P.

Voting for AT&T Goal of the Year continues with the second round. Here is the second round schedule: Groups 1-4 (Nov. 8-9), Groups 5-8 (Nov. 10-11)

Portland's Chara, Valeri, Wallace all nominated for FutbolMLS.com's Latino del Año

Voting for FutbolMLS.com's 2013 Latino del Año (Player of the Year) is now underway, and the Timbers have three players - midfielders Diego Chara, Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace - nominated for the annual honor. Fans can vote online now at www.FutbolMLS.com.

In total, 32 players were nominated based upon their performances and work over the course of the regular season and those selected as FutbolMLS.com's Latino de la Jornada (Player of the Week). Chara is among the nominees in Group B, Valeri is in Group G and Wallace in Group H.

Timbers Academy teams bring back points from road trip to California

The Timbers Academy teams traveled to Mather, Calif., over the weekend to take on San Juan Soccer Club at the Mather Sports Complex, and both brought back points in shutout performances on the road.

The Timbers U-18 Academy registered a 6-0 victory with a two goal performance from forward Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.). The team scored five goals in the first 48 minutes of play and received an own goal from San Juan to decide the final score. The Timbers U-18s recorded their second shutout of the season as they sit in fifth place in the Northwest Division.

The Timbers U-16 Academy played San Juan to a scoreless draw, also recording their second clean sheet of the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.

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.

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 November 5, 2013


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