MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on March 5, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers kick off 2015 season Saturday against Real Salt Lake at Providence Park

PORTLAND, Ore. - Kicking off the 2015 season presented by Simple and celebrating 40 years as a club since the team's founding in 1975, the Portland Timbers play host to Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake at Providence Park on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match, presented by Providence Health & Services, will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750/102.9 The Game (KXTG) and in Spanish on La GranD 1150 AM (KGDD).

Saturday's match marks just the second season-opening game against a Western Conference opponent since 2011, when Portland traveled to face the Colorado Rapids in their first-ever MLS match on March 19, 2011. The Timbers are 2-0-2 in home season-opening games at Providence Park, including a 4-2 win over the Chicago Fire in the team's inaugural MLS home game on April 14, 2011. Portland has sold-out all 68 of its home games at Providence Park since 2011.

Portland enters the match following a strong performance in preseason, compiling a 2-1-3 overall record in six matches while conceding just three goals (including an own goal). The Timbers earned clean sheets against Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes and Norwegian side Stabæk during preseason play. Spanning the end of last season, Portland comes into Saturday's game with a 304-minute streak without conceding a goal in regular-season play. The Timbers finished the 2014 season strong with three consecutive shutouts and will match the MLS-club record of 342 minutes without conceding a goal if they can keep Real Salt Lake off the board in the opening 38 minutes of Saturday's match.

Saturday's match marks the 12th all-time regular-season meeting between the Timbers and Real Salt Lake since 2011 and the first time the two Western Conference sides open the regular season against each other. Portland most recently played Real Salt Lake to a scoreless draw on Oct. 17 at Providence Park. Earlier in the 2014 season, the Timbers earned their first regular-season victory at Rio Tinto Stadium with a 3-1 win on June 7 as Fanendo Adi registered a brace in the first half and midfielder Will Johnson tallied a penalty kick in the 73rd minute to cap the comeback after the Timbers conceded the game's opening goal in the 23rd minute.

Portland has compiled a 2-5-4 all-time record against Real Salt Lake since 2011, including a mark of 1-1-3 at Providence Park. The Timbers are unbeaten in three consecutive regular-season home games against Real Salt Lake (0-0-3), dating back to Aug. 21, 2013.

Following Saturday's match, the Timbers play host to the 2014 MLS Cup-champion LA Galaxy on Sunday, March 15, at Providence Park. Sunday's match will be broadcast live nationally on FOX Sports 1 with local radio broadcasts on 750/102.9 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM (Spanish); kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific).

TEAM NEWS

Timbers unveil new primary jersey

On Tuesday, the Timbers and adidas unveiled the club's official new primary jersey for the 2015 MLS season as part of a special season kickoff event at the Exchange Ballroom in Northeast Portland.

Timbers players Fanendo Adi, Diego Chara, Liam Ridgewell and Rodney Wallace revealed the new primary jersey at the private event that featured other Timbers players, coaches and staff and also showcased new clothing and merchandise items for the upcoming season.

Portland's new primary jersey is available for purchase online at shop.timbers.com and at the adidas Timbers Team Store at Providence Park.

Click here to see the new primary jersey.

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 some of Portland's most popular food carts through the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance (PTFCA). Featured on Saturday at Providence Park will be 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 Khao Man Gai, 808 Grinds and Big-Ass Sandwiches also will be featured at Providence Park in 2015 at both Timbers and Portland Thorns FC home games. To learn more about PTFCA, visit www.timbers.com/ptfca-members.

Timbers single-game tickets for first eight home matches on sale now

Single-game tickets for the Timbers' first eight regular-season home matches at Providence Park are on sale to the public.

Single-game tickets again will be available for purchase in two phases in 2015, with tickets for the first eight home games through June 20 available for purchase now. A second on-sale date for single-game tickets for the final nine regular-season games will take place at a later date.

Fans can purchase single-game tickets, starting at $18, online at www.timbers.com or by calling (888) 736-6849. Additionally, fans can purchase single-game tickets at the Providence Park box office. Box office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday).

Since joining MLS in 2011, the Timbers have sold out all 68 regular-season matches at Providence Park. The club opens its fifth MLS season on Saturday, March 7, at Providence Park as they play host to Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Group opportunities for Timbers home matches are available by contacting the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@timbers.com . Additional group information can be found at www.timbers.com/tickets .

Timbers Academy midfielders Jose Peralta, Adrian Villegas called into U.S. U-15 training camp

On Monday, Timbers U-16 Academy midfielders Jose Peralta and Adrian Villegas were named to the 36-player roster for the U.S. Under-15 Boys' National Team training camp from March 7-15 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Peralta, 15, who was named to the roster for a U.S. U-14 Boys' National Team training camp in August 2014, has appeared in 17 matches (11 starts) for the Timbers U-16s during the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. The Boardman, Ore., native scored his first goal with the Timbers U-16s in a 4-4 draw against Nomads SC U-16s on Feb. 28.

Villegas, 14, was named to the U.S. U-16 Boys' National team roster for the Aegean Cup in January, appearing in all three matches during the tournament, while scoring as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Romania on Jan. 15. The Hood River, Ore., native has appeared 14 matches (11 starts), scoring five goals this season for the Timbers U-16s.

Academy Update: Timbers U-16s extend unbeaten streak to six consecutive matches

The Timbers U-16 Academy team extended its current unbeaten streak to six consecutive matches last weekend with a 4-4 draw against San Diego-based Nomads SC U-16s and the San Diego Surf U-16s in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. The Timbers U-18s sustained a 2-0 loss against Nomads SC U-18s and conceded a late game-winning goal in a 3-2 loss against San Diego Surf U-18s.

Against Nomads SC U-16s on Feb. 28, the Timbers U-16s (11-4-5, 38pts) tallied four goals in the second half as Terrell Lowe (Pocatello, Idaho), Jose Perez (McMinnville, Ore.), Jose Peralta (Boardman, Ore.) and Adrian Villegas (Hood River, Ore.) all netted goals. Nomads SC U-16s tallied the game-tying goal in the 77th minute. Perez scored his third goal in as many games on March 1, helping lead the Timbers U-16s to a 1-0 win over the San Diego Surf U-16s. Perez leads the Timbers U-16s with 15 goals during the season.

Reid Baez (Salem, Ore.) and Josh Varon (Bakersfield, Calif.) netted goals in the second half to help the Timbers U-18s (4-14-2, 14pts) overcome a 2-0 deficit, but the San Diego Surf countered with the game-winning goal in the 89th minute on March 1.

The Timbers Academy returns to the Rose City this weekend with matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy on Saturday at the adidas Timbers Training Center; kickoff for the U-18s is scheduled for 12 noon (Pacific), with the U-16s following at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Timbers U-18s take on the San Juan Soccer Club U-18s at 10 a.m., with the U-16 sides squaring off at 12 noon.

Timbers, AC Portland return 50/50 raffle, fundraiser for a third season in 2015

A resounding success in its first two years, the Timbers, Portland Thorns FC 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 2015, 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 2015 KeyBank LTFC

All Timbers and Thorns FC fans 12-years-old or younger are encouraged to be part of the 2015 KeyBank LTFC. A $30 membership gets you an exclusive 2015 KeyBank LTFC Timbers/Thorns scarf, four free Thorns FC flex tickets, four T2 flex tickets, four general admission tickets to the T2 match against Sacramento Republic on Sept. 12 at Providence Park, an invitation to exclusive KeyBank LTFC team training and autograph session and other great benefits.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

The first episode of "Timbers in 30" this season will air Friday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on KPTV FOX 12.

"Timbers in 30", hosted by Jake Zivin and Ross Smith, will offer inside access to the club and provide 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 .

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs every Wednesday evening beginning at 6 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

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from March 5, 2015


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