The Portland Timbers play host to Northwest rival the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at 7 p.m. at PGE Park. Tickets are available starting at $11. Catch a live broadcast on 95.5 The Game or through USL Live. Catch live updates on Twitter.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Starting lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Thompson, D Knowles, D Keel, D Hayes, M Farber, M Claesson, M McManus, M Pore, F Keita, F Josten
VAN: GK Jolly, D Knight, D Thompson, D Charles, D Trafford, M Moose, M Gage, M Nash, M Toure, F Haber, F Gbeke
Match preview:
Tonight, the Portland Timbers begin a busy stretch which includes six matches spread over the next two weeks.Tonight’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps kicks off a weekend with back-to-back matches, as the Timbers face Mexico's Club America reserves in an exhibition game tomorrow night at PGE Park.
After picking up four points with a win and a draw on a two-game road trip against the Puerto Rico Islanders last weekend, the Timbers enter Saturday's match on a six-match unbeaten streak. During their streak, the Timbers have out-scored opponents 6-3, while the backline has recorded three shutouts. Portland's defense ranks second in the USL First Division in fewest goals allowed (4) behind the Charleston Battery, and has not conceded multiple goals in a single game this season. The lone blemish on the Timbers’ record came against the Whitecaps in their season opening match on April 25.
Over his last three games, forward
Mandjou Keita
has found his rhythm offensively, recording two goals and an assist. His two-goal performance last weekend against Puerto Rico helped him earn USL First Division Player of the Week honors for Week 7. Keita is the first Timbers player to receive Player of the Week honors since forward
Takayuki Suzuki
earned the nod in Week 2 of the 2008 season.
The Timbers are 7-18-8 all-time against the Whitecaps in regular-season play since joining the USL First Division in 2001, and own a 6-4-6 mark over their rivals at PGE Park. In 2009, the Timbers are 0-1-0 against the Whitecaps, falling 1-0 in the team's season opener on a second-half strike by midfielder Martin Nash. Last season, the Whitecaps took all three games against the Timbers, including a 1-0 loss on May 24, 2008 at PGE Park. The Timbers’ last victory over Vancouver was a 2-1 result on July 19, 2007, at PGE Park on goals scored by former players Andrew Gregor and Lawrence Olum.
The weekend continues on Sunday as the Timbers play host to the Club America reserves of Mexico in an international exhibition at PGE Park at 5 p.m., presented by Tecate. The Club America reserves, who compete in Mexico's second division, face the Timbers as part of the preseason tour of the United States. Tickets start at $15 and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone (800) 745-3000.
