MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

Published on March 19, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Timbers travel to face Sporting Kansas City in first road game of 2015 season presented by Simple

PORTLAND, Ore. - Following a 2-2 draw against defending MLS Cup-champion LA Galaxy, the Portland Timbers hit the road for the first time in the 2015 season presented by Simple to take on Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on La GranD 1150 AM .

The Timbers enter Saturday's match undefeated in their last 10 games (5-0-5) against Western Conference opponents since Aug. 30, 2014, while Portland has scored 20 goals in those 10 matches. Sporting KC joins the Western Conference in 2015 following the addition of Orlando City SC and New York City FC to the MLS Eastern Conference. Portland (0-0-2, 2pts) is 2-1-0 against Sporting KC in all competitions at Sporting Park, including a 3-1 victory last year in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition.

The Timbers are 2-3-0 all-time in regular-season play against Sporting KC since 2011, including a regular-season mark of 1-1-0 on the road. Since the start of the 2013 season, Portland has recorded the highest road goal differential of any club in MLS (plus-6). The Timbers also have registered the fewest losses away from home with just 10 and an overall road record of 10-10-14 since 2013. The Timbers have finished with the second-most away goals in MLS in both 2013 (27) and 2014 (25).

Against the Galaxy, forward Fanendo Adi highlighted the Timbers offense, scoring a brace in the 2-2 draw at Providence Park. With his two goals, Adi recorded the fifth brace in his MLS career, bringing his goal total to 11 since joining the Timbers in May 2014. Darlington Nagbe, Rodney Wallace and Liam Ridgewell all provided assists in the match.

Sporting KC (0-1-1, 1pt) enters Saturday's match following a 3-1 road loss against FC Dallas on March 14 at Toyota Stadium. Midfielder Roger Espinoza recorded the team's only tally off a Graham Zusi corner kick in the 44th minute. Espinoza returned to Sporting KC this season after spending the past two years playing in England with Wigan Athletic. Sporting KC also added veteran goalkeeper Luis Marin to the lineup. The 31-year-old has started both games for Sporting KC after a 12-year professional career in his native Chile. Head coach Peter Vermes' side also returns 2014 leading scorer Dom Dwyer, who tallied 22 goals during the regular season last year.

Following Saturday's match, the Timbers continue on the road, taking on Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 28, at BC Place in Vancouver; kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (Pacific). The match against Whitecaps FC will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on LaGranD 1150 AM.

TEAM NEWS

Forward Fanendo Adi nominated for MLS Goal of the Week

Timbers forward Fanendo Adi is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week in Week 2 of the regular season. In the 31st minute against the LA Galaxy on March 15 at Providence Park, Adi delivered a curling shot around Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe and inside the far right post to open the scoring in what would eventually end in a 2-2 draw. Adi also tallied Portland's second goal in the 90th minute.

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

Join the Timbers official viewing party Saturday at Lightning Will Bar & Grill

Fans are invited to attend the club's official viewing party to watch Saturday's matchup against Sporting Kansas City at Lightning Will Bar & Grill in Portland (305 NW 21st Ave.); kickoff for the game is 5:30 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday's viewing party is open to fans age 21 and older. 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.

Enter the Alaska Airlines #540FlyAway sweepstakes for a chance to watch the Timbers face San Jose

Timbers fans are encouraged to enter the Alaska Airlines #540FlyAway sweepstakes for a chance to travel to watch the Timbers take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 2 at Avaya Stadium.

During the entry period, which ends on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific), go to www.timbers.com/540FlyAway and click on the banners, buttons and/or links to access the online entry form for the sweepstakes. By submitting your completed online entry form as directed, you will be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to be one of five grand-prize winners or 40 first-place winners.

Each grand-prize winner will receive Alaska Airlines round-trip air travel for two to San Jose, one room for one night in San Jose, two tickets to the Timbers match on Aug. 2 against the Earthquakes and a Timbers prize pack. Each first-place winner will receive a Timbers prize pack and 5,000 Alaska Mileage Plan™ miles.

Thorns FC to play the University of Portland in preseason match on Saturday; T2 face Pilots on Sunday

Thorns FC will play the University of Portland in their first preseason match on Saturday at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). On Sunday, T2 will play the University of Portland in a preseason match at Merlo Field; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Presented by Providence Health & Services and the University of Portland, tickets for each match are $10 for reserved stadium chairs, $8 for reserved bench back seats or $5 for general admission, while $2 of every ticket purchased supports Providence's sports screening and health education programs for youth in the community. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased through the Pilot box office, by calling (503) 943-7525 or online at ticketmaster.com.

T2 play host to fellow USL expansion side Real Monarchs SLC in the team's inaugural home opener of the 2015 USL season at Merlo Field on Sunday, March 29, at 6 p.m. (Pacific).

T2 single-game tickets now on sale

Single-game tickets for the inaugural USL season for T2 at Merlo Field are now on sale to the public.

Fans are be able to purchase tickets, starting at $10, for the team's regular-season home matches, by calling (888) 736-6849 and online here . In addition, fans also are able to purchase tickets at the Providence Park box office. The Providence Park box office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Group opportunities for T2 matches are available by contacting the ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or ticketsales@timbers.com . T2 season tickets, starting at $8 per game, are available at www.timbers2.com or by calling (503) 553-5555, with limited spots still available in the 1975 Trust.

Thorns FC single-game tickets now on sale

Single-game tickets for Portland Thorns FC's 2015 National Women's Soccer League home matches at Providence Park are now on sale to the public.

Fans are be able to purchase tickets, starting at $13, for the team's regular-season home matches by calling (888) 736-6849 or online here . In addition, fans also are able to purchase tickets at the Providence Park box office. The Providence Park box office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Academy Update: Timbers Academy U-16s defeat Sounders FC U-16s, Timbers U-18s lose after reduced to 10 players

The Timbers Academy U-16s defeated Pacific Northwest-rival Seattle Sounders FC U-16s, 3-1, on March 15 on the road at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The win was the third in four games for the Timbers U-16s and marks their second win over the Sounders FC U-16s during the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Playing down a man for 60 minutes, the Timbers U-18s sustained a hard-fought, 1-0 loss against the Sounders FC U-18s.

With a 5-1-3 record in their last nine games, the Timbers U-16s (13-5-5, 44pts) had three different players register goals against the Sounders FC U-16s. Jose Perez (McMinnville, Ore.), Marco Farfan (Portland, Ore.) and Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz (Vancouver, Wash.) each scored a goal in the win. Perez leads the team with 16 goals in 23 games played. Sounders FC U-16s tallied the opening goal in the fifth minute, but the Timbers U-16s equalized in the 29th minute through Rodriguez-Diaz. Farfan (62nd minute) and Perez (82) scored in the second half.

The Timbers U-18s (5-16-2, 17pts) went down a man in the 40th minute against Sounders FC U-18s as Josh Varon (Bakersfield, Calif.) was issued a second yellow card. The Timbers U-18s fought hard, but conceded the game-winning goal in the 61st minute to Seattle's Sean Bowman.

During a break in league play, the Timbers U-16s will compete in Group D in the 2014-15 Generation adidas Cup Premier Division beginning on Sunday, March 29, at 10 a.m. (Pacific) against Independiente Medellin. Continuing group play, the U-16s will face the New England Revolution on Monday, March 30, at 8 a.m. (Pacific) and the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. (Pacific). Each of the four group winners from the Premier Division advances to the semifinals with the tournament concluding on April 4.

The Timbers Academy teams continue league play the weekend of April 18-19, traveling to face off against Real Salt Lake AZ on Saturday, April 18; the Timbers U-18s kick off at 10 a.m. (Pacific), with the U-16s following at 12:30 p.m. On Sunday, April 19, the Timbers Academy sides square off against FC Golden State; the U-18s are set to play at 10 a.m. and the U-16s are scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

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"

Throughout the season, "Timbers in 30", presented by Oregon Lottery and 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 .

"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 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 .

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 19, 2015


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