MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on May 1, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers kick off three-game home stand Saturday at Providence Park

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers start a stretch of three consecutive home matches on Saturday, squaring off against Eastern Conference foe D.C. United at Providence Park. The match, presented by TriMet, is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Saturday's match will feature a live television broadcast on ROOT SPORTS, with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

The Timbers (0-3-5, 5pts) enter Saturday's match with an MLS-club record, 19-game home unbeaten streak at Providence Park dating back to April 6, 2013. The streak currently ranks as the fourth-longest home unbeaten streak in MLS history. Beginning with Saturday's match against D.C. United, the Timbers will play host to three consecutive home games, while six of the team's next nine regular-season matches are at Providence Park. Since 2013, Portland has lost just one regular-season match at home, earning a mark of 11-1-9 in its last 21 home games.

On Saturday, the Timbers face off against a D.C. United (3-2-2, 11pts) team that is unbeaten in five consecutive matches. Head coach Ben Olsen's squad earned a 4-1 win over 10-man FC Dallas on April 26 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Saturday's game against Portland is D.C. United's third road match of the season, and the first time the team will be crossing three time zones for a match in 2014.

The Timbers, having already faced Eastern Conference sides Philadelphia (March 8) and Chicago (March 16) this year, are unbeaten in their last five regular-season home matches (2-0-3) against Eastern Conference opponents.

Portland and D.C. United have squared off four times in the all-time MLS series, with the Timbers earning a result in three straight matches. Portland, which has compiled a 1-1-2 all-time record against D.C. United, earned a 2-0 win on May 25, 2013, at RFK Stadium in the last meeting between the two sides.

Among MLS league leaders, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts ranks tied for second overall with a 0.86 goals-against average in six appearances this season, while midfielder Diego Valeri places among the league's best in shots (22) and shots on goal (9).

As a team, the Timbers lead the league with five goals scored from outside the penalty box, while also placing first in MLS by striking the woodwork seven times in eight games this season.

Following Saturday's match against D.C. United, the Timbers play host to the LA Galaxy on Sunday, May 11, at Providence Park. Kickoff for the Mother's Day match is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. (Pacific). The match will be carried live nationally on NBC Sports Network with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

TEAM NEWS

Timbers, Thorns FC team up with local partners to present third-annual Stand Together Week

With the help of local community partners and the city of Portland, the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC will present their third-annual Stand Together Week from June 16-22. The comprehensive, week-long community initiative supports dozens of nonprofit projects and volunteer opportunities across the city.

Stand Together Week, with the help of Hands On Greater Portland, will consist of upwards of 38 volunteer projects, benefitting more than 30 organizations focused on youth and the environment across the Portland metro area. This year, Stand Together Week also will include three projects in Bend, Ore. Fans are invited to volunteer and team up with mascot Timber Joey, select Portland Timbers and Thorns FC players, Timbers alumni ambassadors and club staff on the various projects.

Supported by Presenting Partners adidas, Alaska Airlines, Coca-Cola, Daimler Trucks North America, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, KPTV FOX 12 and Providence Health Plan, Stand Together Week kicks off Monday, June 16, with a community gardening party at the Rhododendron Garden in Hillsboro. Each project will engage fans and community members and have a meaningful impact on the community.

To sign up as a volunteer for one of the Stand Together Week projects or for more information on the overall initiative, please visit www.portlandtimbers.com/standtogetherweek.

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 Saturday 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.

Enter to win "Be a Timbers Player for a Day" by filling up at participating 76 gas stations

Fans who fill up their car with eight gallons or more at participating 76 gas station locations from May 1-31 will receive a co-branded 76/Portland Timbers cowbell keychain and have a chance to enter the grand prize drawing. The grand prize package includes VIP seats to the August 24 match against Seattle at Providence Park, plus a locker room tour, a meet-and-greet with team members, a $500 gas card and more.

For more information and to see participating locations, visit www.76.com/timbers.

Timbers to conduct U-18, U-16 Academy team tryouts July 8-10

The Portland Timbers will conduct an open tryout for the Timbers U-18 and U-16 Academy teams July 8-10, searching for players for the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. The tryout will be held at the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District's Howard M. Terpenning Complex in Beaverton, Ore.

Led by the Timbers Academy and youth-development coaches, the tryout is open to all youth players from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Participants can register for the tryout online at registration.portlandtimbers.com; the deadline to sign up is Monday, June 30, at 5 p.m. (Pacific). Additional tryout details and registration information is available at www.timbers.com.

Following the open tryout, the Timbers will conduct an invitational combine for select players, July 14-17. Preseason activities for Timbers Academy teams begin Aug. 18.

Timbers Development Update: Timbers Academy teams take points on the road

The Portland Timbers U-18 and U-16 Academy teams each earned points on the road in their only league matches of April as the Timbers U-18s (10-9-3, 33pts) rallied from a one-goal deficit for a 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes U-18s on April 27. Facing off against the San Jose Earthquakes U-16s the same day, the Timbers U-16s played to a 1-1 draw at San Jose State University.

For the Timbers U-18s, Alejandro Segovia (Hillsboro, Ore.), tallied the game-winning goal in the fifth-minute of second-half stoppage time as the U-18s extended their unbeaten run in league play to three straight games. Foster Langsdorf (Vancouver, Wash.) and Peter Prescott (Vancouver, Wash.), also scored for Portland.

Davis Chimento (Sherwood, Ore.) tallied his third goal of the season in the 23rd minute for the Timbers U-16s (5-8-9, 24pts), but San Jose found the equalizer in the 36th minute.

The Timbers Academy teams return to Portland to take on Crossfire Premier at the adidas Timbers Training Center, Saturday, May 10. The Timbers U-18s are scheduled to kick off at 12 noon (Pacific), while the Timbers U-16 side will play at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Timbers U-23s to play host to Arizona United SC in second round of 2014 U.S. Open Cup

The Portland Timbers U-23s will play host to Arizona United SC of USL PRO in the second round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 13, at Providence Park at 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Tickets for the Timbers U-23s' second-round match, priced at $10, are now on sale and available for purchase online at www.timbers.com, by phone at (888) 736-6849 or through the Providence Park box office.

Both the Portland Timbers and Timbers U-23s are set to participate in the 2014 U.S. Open Cup. All 16 U.S.-based clubs from Major League Soccer will compete, entering cup play in the fourth round June 10-18. The Timbers U-23s are one of 19 teams from United Soccer Leagues' Premier Development League participating in the tournament.

The Timbers will participate in the U.S. Open Cup proper for a third consecutive season. In 2013, the Timbers made their deepest run in the tournament in club history, reaching the semifinal.

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

A resounding 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 FC 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 50/50 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" offers inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provides 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" airs 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.

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.timbers.com/timbers-podcast-network.

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 1, 2014


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