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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

March 8, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Hitting the road for a second consecutive week, the Timbers will travel to face the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, March 10. Beginning at 4 p.m. (Pacific), the match against the Red Bulls will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Facing the Red Bulls

Heading into Saturday's match, the Timbers (0-1-0) are unbeaten in their last two matches played against the Red Bulls, dating back to July 10, 2016. During that stretch, the Timbers held the Red Bulls scoreless in both matches played, recording a 0-0 draw during the 2016 campaign and a 2-0 win in 2017. Facing the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena, the Timbers are also unbeaten in their last two games against New York, with Portland's last loss at Red Bull Arena taking place on Aug. 19, 2012. During the MLS head-to-head series, neither team has won more than one game at their home stadium.

Timbers' form

With Portland opening the 2018 season against the LA Galaxy on March 4, midfielder Sebastián Blanco scored the first goal of the season for Portland in the match against the Galaxy during opening week. Blanco's finish marked his ninth goal with the club since joining the Timbers ahead of the 2017 MLS campaign. Additionally, multiple players made their MLS and Timbers debuts during the match against the Galaxy, with midfielders Cristhian Paredes, Andy Polo and Andrés Flores and forward Samuel Armenteros each making their first appearance for the club.

Extended road trip

Sunday's match against the Red Bulls marks the second of five straight games on the road for the Timbers, as the club opens its eighth season in MLS. The Timbers' five-game road trip to start the 2018 season is due to the construction currently underway at Providence Park as part of phase one of the stadium expansion. During that stretch, the Timbers will travel roughly 20,000 miles, facing the LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, FC Dallas, Chicago Fire and Orlando City SC.

Scouting the Red Bulls

Parting ways with midfielders Sacha Kljestan and Felipe, the Red Bulls (0-0-0, 0pts) made key acquisitions to bolster their squad during the offseason, including Argentinian playmaker Alejandro Romero Gamarra, also known as Kaku, and MLS veteran defender Tim Parker. Kaku, the team's 22-year-old Young Designated Player, was acquired via transfer, while Parker was acquired via trade with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which sent Felipe to the Canadian-based club. Heading into Saturday's match, the Red Bulls are one of three teams that had a bye during opening week, but enter the game coming off consecutive wins in CONCACAF Champions League play, recently defeating Club Tijuana 2-0 during a midweek contest on March 6. Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips scored both goals for the Red Bulls in the win over Tijuana.

Next match

Following Saturday's match, the Timbers will travel to face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, March 24. Beginning at 1 p.m. (Pacific), the March 24 match will be televised nationally on Univision with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

TEAM NEWS

Join the Timbers official viewing party Sunday at Widmer Brothers Taproom

Fans are invited to attend the club's official viewing party to watch Saturday's match at Widmer Brothers Taproom in Portland (955 N Russell St.); kickoff for the game is 4 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday's viewing party is open to fans of all ages. There, fans can watch the match with other Timbers supporters and Timber Joey and enter to win prizes.

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

T2 to play host to FC St. Pauli

The Portland Timbers recently announced that T2 will play host to 2. Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli in an international exhibition on Tuesday, May 22, at Providence Park at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). FC St. Pauli will visit the Rose City as part of its postseason tour of the United States. In partnership with the 107 Independent Supporters Trust (107ist), a portion of the proceeds from the match will benefit IRCO. Founded in 1976, IRCO has over 40 years of history and experience working with Portland's refugee and immigrant communities.

T2 acquire forward Darixon Vuelto

T2 recently announced that the club has acquired forward Darixon Vuelto from Liga Nacional side C.D. Victoria on loan for the 2018 USL campaign, with a purchase option. Vuelto will be added to T2's roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 visa, in addition to league and federation approval.

Vuelto, 20, joins Portland with more than 70 professional appearances in his career as a forward since making his professional debut as a 15-year-old with C.D. Victoria in Honduras, starting and playing 68 minutes against C.D. Olimpia on Sept. 7, 2013. A native of Sambo Creek, Honduras, Vuelto most recently played for Honduran side Real C.D. España, on loan from C.D. Victoria, during the 2017-18 Liga Nacional campaign, where he made 28 appearances (23 starts) and scored 10 goals.

Academy Update: Timbers Academy teams record positive results over the weekend

Returning to league play after a bye week, the Timbers U-14 Academy team battled Seattle United to a 3-3 draw, with the U-14s extending their unbeaten streak to four games in the new year. Three different players scored for the Timbers during the win, with Jhovany Gaytan, Kyle McGowan and Abraham Villalobos each finding the back of the net. The Timbers U-15 Academy team produced a 1-1 draw in both of its games this past weekend, drawing the San Jose Earthquakes U-15s 1-1, before battling Silicon Valley Soccer Academy's U-15 side to a 1-1 draw on the following day. Andre Saucedo-Avila and Lukas Fisher scored both goals for the U-15s over the weekend.

Also facing the Earthquakes and Silicon Valley, the Timbers U-17 side recorded a win and a draw, defeating the Earthquakes 4-3, before tying Silicon Valley 1-1. Four different players scored in 4-3 win, including Josh Darius, Brendan Herb, Rian Jamai and Nicholas Scardina, with Herb recording the game-winning goal. Scardina also scored the lone goal for the Timbers in the team's 1-1 draw against Silicon Valley. Portland's U-19 fell to the Earthquakes 4-3, but rebounded with a 3-0 win over Silicon Valley. Giovanni Calixtro, Carlos Anguiano and Lucas Cini found the back of the net in the match against San Jose. Cini also scored in the win against Silicon Valley, while John Klein and Emory Rapaport also tallied a goal in the victory.

TEAM MEDIA SOURCES

Television: "Timbers in 30"

Throughout the season, "Timbers in 30," hosted by Jake Zivin, Ross Smith and Samantha Yarock, 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. This week, "Timbers in 30" airs on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) on FOX 12 Oregon with Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese in studio.

Radio: "Talk Timbers"

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," 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 also features regular updates on T2 and Portland Thorns FC. This week's guests included assistant coach Carlos Llamosa and Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco.

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/news/timbers-podcast-network.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 8, 2018


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