Sports stats



MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

March 14, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers play host to the Chicago Fire on Sunday in their second straight home match at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 12 noon (Pacific). Portland will debut its new secondary Rose City Red kits on Sunday against the Fire.

The match against the Fire will be telecast live on ROOT SPORTS and carried live on the radio at 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

Portland, which has complied an MLS club record 16-game unbeaten streak in regular-season play at Providence Park dating back to March 9, 2013, squares off against a second consecutive Eastern Conference opponent to start the 2014 MLS season. Opening the regular-season campaign on March 8 with a come-from-behind, 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union, the Timbers play host to a Chicago team coming off a 3-2 loss on the road at Chivas USA on March 9.

The Timbers, who recorded the game-tying goal against Philadelphia in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, are unbeaten in their last four games against Eastern Conference opponents and have logged a 3-0-1 all-time record against the Fire since the 2011 season.

Portland recorded its first-ever win in MLS against the Fire, earning a 4-2 win in the team's inaugural home opener on April 14, 2011, at Providence Park. Later that season, the Timbers tallied their first-ever road win in MLS with a 1-0 victory against Chicago at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., on July 16, 2011. Portland has compiled a 2-0-0 record against the Fire at Providence Park, last beating the Windy City club on May 20, 2012.

In the lone meeting between the two clubs in 2013, midfielders Diego Valeri and Ben Zemanski scored in each half and forward Frederic Piquionne logged two assists, but the Fire tallied two goals in the final 22 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw against the Timbers on June 8, 2013, at Toyota Park.

Following Sunday's match against the Fire, Portland takes to the road for their first away game of the 2014 season, squaring off against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, March 22, at 3 p.m. (Pacific) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers' Caleb Porter receives Sportsperson of the Year award at Oregon Sports Awards

Timbers head coach Caleb Porter was awarded the Slats Gill Award for Sportsperson of the Year as part of the Oregon Sports Awards show held in Beaverton, Ore., last weekend.

The Sportsperson of the Year, an award named after legendary Oregon State University coach and administrator Slats Gill, is given to an outstanding coach, administrator or organization from an Oregon-based team at any level of competition during the calendar year.

Under Porter, the Timbers assembled one of the biggest turnaround seasons in MLS history in 2013. In his first year as the club's head coach, Porter helped guide the Timbers to a 23-point improvement in points and an MLS-record 43-goal improvement in goal differential over the team's 2012 totals. The 2013 MLS Coach of the Year, Porter's winning percentage (.632) in 2013 ranked among the best in league history for first-year MLS head coaches, and the Timbers' 15-game unbeaten streak during the 2013 regular season set the mark for the longest by an MLS head coach in his first full season at the helm.

Timbers sign midfielder Will Johnson to new, multi-year contract

The Timbers announced on Monday that the club has signed midfielder Will Johnson to a new, multi-year contract.

Johnson, 27, was named to the league's Best XI after helping guide the Timbers to a first-place finish in the Western Conference regular-season standings and their first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2013. Voted a 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star, Johnson also helped lead the Timbers to their deepest run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The team's captain set new career marks in goals (9), assists (5), points (23) and minutes played (2,520) during his first season with Portland last season.

Nong's Khao Man Gai to be featured food cart Saturday at Providence Park

As part of the match-day experience at Providence Park, fans can enjoy food from four of Portland's most popular food carts through the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA). Featured on Sunday at Providence Park will be a Thai favorite, Nong's Khao Man Gai.

Founded in 2012, the PTFCA is a program designed to highlight the Rose City's vibrant food cart culture. In addition to Nong's Khoa Man Gai, 808 Grinds, Big Ass Sandwiches and Stumplings also will be featured at Providence Park in 2014 at both Timbers and Portland Thorns FC home games. To learn more about PTFCA, visit www.timbers.com/ptfca-members.

Timbers, AC Portland return 50/50 raffle, fundraiser for a second season in 2014

A success in 2013, the Timbers and AC Portland have teamed with Pointstreak 5050 to once again bring the 50/50 raffle to fans at Providence Park.

At all Timbers and Thorns home games in 2014, fans will 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 event's net proceeds. The remaining proceeds benefit AC Portland and the Portland Timbers Community Fund.

Be part of the 2014 KeyBank LTFC

All Timbers and Thorns FC fans 12-years-old or younger are encouraged to be part of the 2014 KeyBank LTFC. A $25 membership gets you an exclusive 2014 KeyBank LTFC Timbers/Thorns scarf, two free Thorns FC flex tickets, an invitation to exclusive KeyBank LTFC team training and autograph session and other great benefits.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

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.timbers.com .

"Timbers in 30" will air on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12.

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs every Wednesday 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.

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from March 14, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central