PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers open a home-and-home set against the Austin Aztex this week with their final road match of the regular season Monday at 4 p.m. (Pacific). The two sides meet again Friday at PGE Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Monday’s road fixture will be broadcast live on 95.5 The Game and online at
www.portlandtimbers.com
, with a live video webcast available through USL Live – now a free service at www.usllive.com.
Portland (14-2-10, 52pts) and Austin square off at PGE Park on Friday for the lone time this season. Fans are encouraged to donate items for the team’s canned-food drive, benefitting the Oregon Food Bank. Tickets start at $11 and are available through the PGE Park box office area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Portland currently sits in first place in the USL First Division with a three-point lead and a game in hand over the second-place Carolina RailHawks. The Timbers play their next three games over a seven-day span.
WATCH MONDAY’S GAME WITH THE TIMBERS AT THE AGENCY
Watch the Timbers’ final road match of the regular season at the all-ages Heineken Viewing Party at The Agency Ultra Sports Lounge; kickoff against the Aztex is 4 p.m. (Pacific). The Agency is located across the street from PGE Park at 1939 SW Morrison St, in downtown Portland. Enjoy menu specials, meet select Timbers players and win special prizes during the game.
A STREAK FOR THE AGES
With a 2-1 loss at home to the Rochester Rhinos last week, the Timbers’ USL First Division-record 24-game unbeaten streak came to a close. During the streak, the Timbers recorded 14 wins, 12 shutouts and out-scored opponents, 40-13. The loss to the Rhinos was the team’s first since the season-opening match on April 25 and was the first home loss to a league opponent since Sept. 11, 2008.
THE LONESTAR STATE
The Timbers make their second visit to Austin this season to face the expansion Aztex (4-15-8, 18 (-2)) Monday. In their first-ever meeting on July 11, the Timbers received the game-winning goal from midfielder
Johan Claesson
in second-half stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win. It was the team’s first trip to Texas for a regular-season match since 2003 to face the El Paso Patriots. The Timbers round out their 2009 season series against the Aztex later this week.
ABOUT AUSTIN AZTEX
One of two USL First Division expansion clubs this season, the Aztex were dealt their second straight loss over the weekend in a 3-1 result to the Miami FC Blues on the road. Austin has recorded just one win over its last seven matches, posting a 1-5-1 mark in that span. At the end of August, the Aztex signed 2009 USL Second Division MVP Jamie Watson. The striker finished the recent USL Second Division season as the points champion and led the Wilmington Hammerheads to a regular-season title.
WELCOME TO THE USL FIRST DIVISION
Under third-year head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
, the Timbers are 7-0-2 against USL First Division expansion clubs in their inaugural seasons. In 2009, Portland has a combined record of 1-0-1 against the Aztex and Cleveland City Stars. The Timbers finish their regular-season slate with two games against Austin and a pair of matches with Cleveland.
TIMBERS PLAYOFF TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE
Timbers 2009 playoff ticket packages are on sale, starting at $36. The playoff strips include a ticket for all three possible home playoff matches – first, semifinal and championship rounds – at PGE Park, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino. Packages are available through the PGE Park box office or by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555.
