PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers battle I-5 rival, the Seattle Sounders Friday night at PGE Park. Friday's match will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and marks Seattle's only trip to Portland during the 2007 regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
The Timbers (1-1-0, 3pts) and Sounders (1-2-1, 4pts) meet for the second time in less than a week. The two sides met on May 5 in Seattle as the Sounders handed the Timbers their first loss of the season with a 1-0 victory. With only three regular-season meetings scheduled this year, the Timbers travel to Seattle Aug. 1 for the final game of the 2007 season series.
The Sounders own the regular season series with an all-time record of 14-10-3 against Portland, but the series is tied at 6-6-1 in games played at PGE Park.
Friday's match also marks the beginning of Cascadia Cup action for the Timbers. The Cascadia Cup is a three-team derby between the Timbers, Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Timbers Cascadia Cup Schedule:
May 11 vs. Seattle
Aug. 1 @ Seattle
Aug. 11 vs. Vancouver
Sept. 9 @ Vancouver
The Timbers and Sounders match on May 11 will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox En Espanol. Fans can also listen to a live broadcast online at www.portlandtimbers.com.
ABOUT PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Timbers improved their home record to 2-0-0 with a 1-0 victory over Club Necaxa on Wednesday night in front of 7,761 at PGE Park. Rookie forward Bryan Jordan scored his first professional goal and goalkeeper Josh Wicks recorded four saves helping the Timbers record their first shutout of the season.
The Timbers look to continue their early season success at PGE Park with the team’s next four matches being played at home.
New assistant coach Rod Underwood experienced his first match with the Timbers Wednesday against Club Necaxa at PGE Park. Head coach Gavin Wilkinson coaching staff includes Underwood, Jim Rilatt and goalkeeper coach Jim Brazeau. Underwood has coached at the college and professional levels for the past 10 years, this is his first season with the Timbers.
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS
After playing their first three matches of the season on the road, the Sounders earned their first victory of the season in a 1-0 win on May 5 over the Timbers at home. Defender
Zach Scott
and Knox were selected to the USL First Division Team of the Week for Week 3 with their performances last weekend.
Seattle remains winless on the road this season.
After their match against the Timbers on Friday, the Sounders return home Saturday for a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Qwest Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
