The Timbers host a special doubleheader today at PGE Park. The Timbers U-23s face the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at 1 p.m., followed by the Timbers at 5 p.m. against the Montreal Impact on FSN. A live broadcast of the match against Montreal is also available through USL Live and portlandtimbers.com.
Click here for today's match notes - Timbers U-23s vs. Vancouver / Timbers vs. Montreal.
Starting lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Hayes, D Knowles, D Keel, D Thompson, M Farber, M Claesson, M Savage, M Suzuki, F Keita, F Josten
MON: GK Jordan, D Gatti, D Zan Zan, D Pizzolitto, D Sakuda, M Grande, M Testo, M Di Lorenzo, M de Roux, F Gjertsen, F Sebrango
Match Preview:
After an eight-day break, the Portland Timbers return to action tonight against the Impact at PGE Park. Tonight's match begins another busy stretch as the Timbers play their next four games in span of seven days, including a U.S. Open Cup and exhibition match.
The Timbers enter tonight's fixture on an 11-match unbeaten streak in league play - the longest unbeaten streak in modern franchise history. In their last match, the Timbers erupted for five goals in 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Thunder on June 19 at PGE Park. The five-goal performance against Minnesota was the club's highest-scoring affair since the 2005 season, when the Timbers defeated Atlanta 6-1 on Sept. 8, 2005 at PGE Park.
Portland currently sits in fourth place in the USL First Division, just five points behind first-place Puerto Rico. The Timbers are unbeaten at home this season (5-0-1) and have out-scored opponents, 12-2, in USL First Division contests. Portland's backline ranks among league leaders in fewest goals allowed, conceding just six goals through the first 12 games of the season.
Tonight's match is second of three regular-season meetings between the Timbers and Impact this season. On June 4, the Timbers sealed a 1-0 win over Montreal with a 90th minute goal by midfielder
Keith Savage
at PGE Park. Overall, the Timbers are 6-3-2 against the Impact, including a 3-2-1 mark at home. Since 2007, the Timbers are unbeaten against Montreal at home. The two clubs finish their 2009 season series Aug. 12 in Montreal.
After missing the past several matches due to injury, midfielder
Ryan Pore
and
Tony McManus
, forward
Antouman Jallow
and defender
Takuro Nishimura
are all available for tonight's match.
The Timbers play host to Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday at PGE Park at 7 p.m. in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. The third-round matchup is the first meeting between the Northwest rivals since Seattle joined MLS in 2009. The Portland-Seattle rivalry dates back to 1975 and the two sides have squared off dozens of times as opponents in the North American Soccer League and United Soccer Leagues First Division. Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
