The Timbers face the Islanders tonight at 5 p.m. (Pacific) in the first of two games this weekend in Puerto Rico. Listen to a live broadcast of tonight's match with Andy McNamara on the call. A live video webcast is also available through USL Live.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Thompson, D Knowles, D Keel, D Hayes, M Nimo, M Claesson, M McManus, M Pore, F Josten, F Keita
PR:
Match Preview:
The Portland Timbers begin a two-game road trip in Puerto Rico against the Islanders tonight at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. Tonight's contest also marks the first game of the three-match, regular-season series between the two clubs in 2009.
Portland brings a four-game unbeaten streak into its set of matches in Puerto Rico. The Timbers are 2-0-2 over their previous four games and have out-scored their opponents 4-1 in that span. During the team's unbeaten streak, the backline has conceded just one goal and logged three consecutive shutouts. The Timbers had their shutout streak come to an end in a 2-1 win over the Rochester Rhinos on May 14, at PGE Park. A goal by Rochester's Darren Kenton in the 66th minute ended the Timbers run of 363 minutes without allowing a goal.
Midfielders
Brian Farber
and
Ryan Pore
have combined to score all four of the Timbers' goals on the season. Both tallied in a 2-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks on May 2, and again against the Rhinos last week. Pore ranks second in the league with 22 shots through his first five games. Including Pore, the Timbers have three players among the top five league leaders in shots - forward
Mandjou Keita
(15) is tied for third and midfielder
Johan Claesson
(12) is tied for fifth.
The Timbers are 5-4-1 all-time against the Islanders, but have 0-3-1 mark in Puerto Rico. Last season, the Timbers earned their first point in Puerto Rico with a 2-2 draw on May 16, 2008. Down by two goals early, the Timbers rallied on goals by former players Lawrence Olum and Chris Brown to level the score and snap the team's three-game losing streak in Puerto Rico. The Islanders have out-scored the Timbers 8-3 in games played in Puerto Rico since 2004. The two sides split the 2008 season series at 1-1-1.
Defender
Takuro Nishimura
will be available for selection this weekend. He missed the Timbers last two matches - at Cleveland and against Rochester - while back in Japan on personal leave. Nishimura returned to Portland last Friday and has trained with the team all week.
The Timbers and Islanders meet for the second time in three days on Sunday in Puerto Rico at 4 p.m. (Pacific). Portland returns home to face defending-champion the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, May 30 at PGE Park at 7 p.m. on Go Green Night. The first 2,000 fans receive a water bottle courtesy of Esurance. Tickets start at $11 and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
