The Portland Timbers conclude their two-game road trip tonight against the Puerto Rico Islanders at 4 p.m. (Pacific). Catch a live broadcast of tonight's match with Andy McNamara on the call. Live updates will also be available through Twitter. View a live video webcast through USL Live.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Nishimura, D Knowles, D Danso, D Hayes, M Farber, M McManus, M Claesson, M Savage, M Pore, F Keita
PR:
Match Preview:
The Portland Timbers conclude their two-game road trip in Puerto Rico with their second match against the Islanders in three days tonight at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. Tonight’s match is the second in the three-game, regular-season series between the Timbers and Islanders in 2009.
On Friday, the Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to five matches with a 1-1 draw against the Islanders. Including the draw, the Timbers are 2-0-3 in their last five games and have scored five goals behind midfielders Ryan Pore and Brian Farber and forward Mandjou Keita. Portland’s backline has aided in the run, having allowed only two goals over the past five matches. The Timbers defense has allowed just three goals this season.
Pore ranks second in the league with 22 shots through his first six games. Including Pore, the Timbers have three players among the top five league leaders in shots - forward Mandjou Keita (16) is third and midfielder Johan Claesson (12) is tied for fifth.
The Timbers are 5-4-2 all-time against the Islanders, and continue to look for their first win in Puerto Rico with a record of 0-3-2 in the Caribbean. Including Friday’s match, the Timbers have registered two consecutive draws against the Islanders in Puerto Rico - snapping a three game losing streak on the island. Portland’s last two matches in Puerto Rico have ended with come-from-behind draws; the Timbers and Islanders finished 2-2 on May 16, 2008. The Timbers split their three-game season series last season with the Islanders with a record of 1-1-1.
On Friday, defender David Hayes made his 240th career regular-season appearance in the USL First Division. He now ranks among the league’s all-time leaders in games played.
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.
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.
