Jorge Perlaza

<a href="http://www.portlandtimbers.com/search/apachesolr_search?keys=jorge+perlaza&amp;op=go">Jorge Perlaza News</a><br>

Perlaza, a veteran of 10 professional seasons, joined the Timbers for their inaugural season in MLS. Starting his professional career at the age of 16, Perlaza was a proven goal scorer in Colombia’s first division, netting 23 goals in 78 league games from 2009-10 with Deportes Tolima. He has competed in two of South America’s more prestigious tournaments, including the Copa Libertadores in 2007.

2012: Started and played 88 minutes May 26 against Vancouver ... Played 23 minutes as a sub on May 20 against Chicago ... Made his first start since March 31, playing 84 minutes on April 21 against Sporting KC ... Has appeared in the first seven games (4 starts) ... Came on as a 76th minute sub on April 7 against Chivas USA ... Started and played 45 minutes against FC Dallas on March 17 ... Played the full 90 in the Timbers’ season opening victory, 3-1, over Philadephia.

2011: In his first MLS season, ranked third among the Timbers’ leading scorers with 14 points and six goals ... Named to MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week in Weeks 5 and 21 ... Scored the first goal at JELD-WEN Field on April 14, in the 29th minute of the Timbers’ home opener against Chicago ... That strike was declared MLSsoccer.com’s Goal of the Week in Week 5 ... Scored two goals on April 14 and was the only Timbers player in 2011 to have a multiple-goal game ... Scored the go-ahead goal in the 69th minute against Seattle Sounders FC on July 10 ... Drew a penalty July 16 at Chicago in the 23rd minute, which led to Jack Jewsbury’s game-winning, penalty-kick goal to give the Timbers their first MLS road victory ... Assisted Kenny Cooper’s go-ahead goal at San Jose Aug. 6 ... Registered a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 20 at JELD-WEN Field ... Was one of six Timbers players on the AT&T 2011 MLS All-Star voting ballot.

2010: Compiled 15 goals in 31 league matches (23 starts) for Colombian first-division club Deportes Tolima, finishing the season as one of the club’s leading scorers ... Scored 10 of his 15 goals during the Campeonato Finalización, ranking among the league’s top goal scorers (tied for sixth) over the second half of the season ... Led Tolima to the overall first-place position in the Liga Postobón with a combined 25-10-11 record, which subsequently qualified the club for the 2011 Copa Libertadores tournament ... Started five games during the 2010 Copa Sudameri­cana and scored in a 2-0 victory against Club Deportivo Oriente Petrolero on Sept. 21 ... Tolima bowed out of the tournament in the quarterfinal, falling on penalty kicks to Argentina’s Independiente.

CAREER: Was a dependable scorer for Tolima during his final two seasons with the club, scoring 23 goals in 78 league games ... In total, tallied 28 goals in 135 appear­ances in four seasons with Tolima ... Had a breakout sea­son in 2006, netting eight goals in 26 games for Deportes Quindío, and was signed by Tolima the following season ... Tallied eight goals for Tolima in 2009, contributing to the club’s first-place finish in the Apertura tournament and its second-place overall finish in the season standings ... Has participated in two of South America’s more prestigious tournaments – Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana ... First played in the Copa Sudamericana in 2003 with Deportivo Pasto ... Competed in the 2007 Copa Libertado­res with Tolima ... Began career at the age of 16 in native Colombia with Atlético Huila in 2001 and has played for Colombian sides Quindío (2002, 2004-06), Pasto (2002-03) and Tolima (2007-10) ... Career totals include 39 goals in 212 league matches.

PERSONAL: Pronounced “HOR-hay per-LA-za.”