MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on July 3, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers face off against LA Galaxy in Independence Day match at the StubHub Center

PORTLAND, Ore. - Unbeaten in four consecutive regular-season road matches, the Portland Timbers square off against the LA Galaxy in a nationally televised match on Friday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.; kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (Pacific).

Friday's Independence Day match will be broadcast live nationally on NBC Sports Network with a local radio broadcast on 750 The Game.

Portland (4-5-8, 20pts) enters Friday's match with a four-game unbeaten streak on the road, dating back to April 27. In all competitions, the Timbers have not lost in five consecutive road games. Similarly, Portland is undefeated in four consecutive matches against the LA Galaxy since 2013, compiling a 2-0-2 record, including and 0-0-1 mark at the StubHub Center. The Timbers have outscored the Galaxy 4-2 over their last four meetings, including two shutouts and a 1-1 draw against head coach Bruce Arena's club on May 11 at Providence Park as each team registered goals in second-half stoppage time after going scoreless in 90 minutes of regulation.

It has been more than a full calendar year since the Timbers last visited the StubHub Center to face the Galaxy on June 19, 2013, as the two sides played to a scoreless draw and Portland earned its first road point against the Galaxy since entering MLS in 2011.

Midfielder Will Johnson has registered an assist in consecutive matches against the Galaxy, using a clever back-heel pass to set up midfielder Diego Valeri's game-tying goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time in a 1-1 draw on May 11 at Providence Park. Johnson also delivered the game-winning assist on a corner kick that connected with forward Maximiliano Urruti in a 1-0 win over the Galaxy on Sept. 29, 2013, at Providence Park.

Entering the week, the Timbers rank among the top teams in MLS in several offensive categories. Portland is tied for second in goals scored (28) and ranks fifth overall in assists (21), while the squad has attempted the second-most shots (236) and shots on goal (85) this season. The Timbers are also the most fouled team in MLS, suffering 281 fouls in 17 matches.

Individually, Valeri is tied for the league lead with eight assists, including four assists in the last four regular-season matches. The playmaking midfielder, who finished as the league-leader in assists (13) last season while winning MLS Newcomer of the Year honors, has tallied at least one point in six of the last nine regular-season games.

The Galaxy (5-3-5, 20pts) enter Friday's match with the fewest number of games played (13) of any team in the Western Conference. Arena's team has conceded a league-low 11 goals, while also compiling a five-game unbeaten streak heading into Friday's match against the Timbers. The Galaxy, who are led by forward Robbie Keane's seven goals and four assists, are coming off a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday at Stanford Stadium.

Following Friday's match, the Timbers travel to face Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 9, at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Portland faces Seattle twice in the same week as the Timbers again travel to face Sounders FC in a regular-season match on Sunday, July 13, at CenturyLink Field; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

TEAM NEWS

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts nominated for MLS Save of the Week

Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is nominated for MLS Save of the Week in Week 16 of the regular season after a point-blank save on Sporting Kansas City forward Soony Saad in the 63rd minute of a 1-0 loss on June 27 at Providence Park.

Voting runs until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific) on Thursday.

Join the Timbers official viewing party Friday at Henry's Tavern

Fans are invited to attend the club's official viewing party to watch Friday's matchup against the LA Galaxy at Henry's Tavern (10 NW 12th Ave.); kickoff for the game is 8 p.m. (Pacific). There, you can watch the match with other Timbers supporters and Timber Joey, enter to win prizes and earn Rose City Rewards points.

There are more than 20 official Timbers pub partners across the greater-Portland area. Click here for a full list of Timbers Pub Partners.

Timbers, Sounders FC U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal tilt named U.S. Soccer's "Game of the Round"

Portland travels to face Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, July 9, at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

U.S. Soccer announced today that Wednesday's match will be the "Game of the Round" with live streaming coverage available on www.ussoccer.com.

In recent years, Portland and Seattle met in back-to-back editions in U.S. Open Cup third-round matches in 2009 and 2010, with Sounders FC defeating the then-second division Timbers on both occasions. Before that, the teams split the only two other meetings in Open Cup history with Portland winning the first match in 2005 and Seattle winning in 2007.

Twitter fan voting for MLS All-Star Game runs through Sunday

Fan voting for the MLS All-Star Game opened on May 28, but on Wednesday, a new way to vote for your favorite player started on Twitter. Fans can now vote on Twitter using the hashtag #MLSAllStar along with the player's full name with or without a space (Example: Darlington Nagbe or DarlingtonNagbe) or the player's specific Twitter handle (@darlingtonnagbe). A user may only vote for one player per tweet.

A tweet equals one vote for the player, while each retweet is recorded as a vote as well. There is no limit to the amount of times fans can vote.

The Twitter fan voting runs until 8:59 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday.

Take part in the CenturyLink #HarringtonPhotoBomb contest

Fans now have the chance to create their best #HarringtonPhotoBomb for the opportunity to win an ultimate Timbers fan experience, presented by CenturyLink.

Using one of CenturyLink's special Michael Harrington cutouts that were distributed at last Friday's match against Sporting Kansas City, entrants must submit their best photobombs on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #HarringtonPhotoBomb through July 31.

Following the competition, Harrington will choose his favorite photobomb as the winner. The contest winner will receive four (4) tickets to Portland's match against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park on Sept. 20, pregame VIP passes and a meet-and-greet with Harrington after the match. Two additional winners will receive a Timbers jersey signed by Harrington.

Timbers on loan: Timbers players continue to gain valuable time with USL PRO clubs

Midfielder George Fochive and Jamaican defender Alvas Powell turned in 90-minute performances and midfielder Steven Evans started and played 65 minutes for USL PRO co-affiliate Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday in a 2-0 loss against OKC Energy FC at Pribil Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Republic FC (8-5-2, 26pts) currently stand in fourth place in the USL PRO standings.

On loan with Arizona United SC, forward Schillo Tshuma started and played 63 minutes in a 3-2 loss against Orange County FC on Saturday at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz.

Timbers U-23s prepare for final two matches of 2014 PDL regular season

Following a 1-1 draw against Lane United FC at McCulloch Stadium in Salem, Ore., on Tuesday, the Timbers U-23s have a week off before the conclusion of the 2014 Premier Development League (PDL) season.

Portland (4-4-4, 16pts) is unbeaten in five consecutive matches and sits in fourth place in the Northwest Division standings, just six points off of first place.

The Timbers U-23s travel to face Lane United FC on Friday, July 11, at the Willamalane Center in Eugene, Ore.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). Three days later, Portland plays host to the Washington Crossfire in their final regular-season match on Monday, July 14, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Ore.; kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Timbers drawn into Group 5 for 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League tournament

The Timbers have been drawn into Group 5 of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League tournament alongside Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras and Alpha United FC of Guyana. The CONCACAF Champions League draw, which set the eight, three-team pairings that comprise the tournament's group stage, was held on May 28 at the InterContinental at Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. The full tournament schedule will be announced at a later date while the eventual CONCACAF Champions League winner will earn a berth in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.

Show your support for the team on the road using the hashtag #TimbersAway

For all Timbers regular-season away games, fans will have the opportunity to submit photos of how they are watching the Timbers road games using the hashtag #TimbersAway. Post photos of your road trip, your family gathering, your outing at the official Timbers viewing party and more on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #TimbersAway.

After each match, one lucky fan will receive 12,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Plus, at the end of the season, one fan will receive MVP Gold status by receiving the total number of miles the team traveled during the regular season. The more #TimbersAway entries you produce, the better your chances of winning.

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 July 3, 2014


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