PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Portland Timbers enter a set of matches this weekend at PGE Park in position to capture the Commissioner’s Cup as the USL First Division regular-season champions, starting with tonight’s tilt against the Austin Aztex. Portland then plays host to the Cleveland City Stars Sunday at 5 p.m.
With the Minnesota Thunder’s victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders Thursday, the Timbers (15-2-10, 55pts) can claim their second Commissioner’s Cup in modern-franchise history with a win or draw against Austin; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Portland last won the regular-season title in 2004, assembling a league-best 18-7-3 (57pts) record.
The Commissioner’s Cup winner enters the USL First Division playoffs as the No. 1 seed and earns a first-round bye to the semifinals.
The Timbers and Aztex (4-16-8, 18pts (-2)) cap a home-and-home set this week at PGE Park. The two sides met on Monday in Austin, with Portland earning a 1-0 road win. Tonight is the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs in 2009.
Sunday is All-About-Kids Day at PGE Park, as the first-place Timbers welcome the City Stars. Kids have the opportunity to participate in a number of exclusive game-day activities, including kid PA announcer, kid photographer and kid reporter. To sign up for one of these activities, log on to
www.portlandtimbers.com
. Prior to kickoff, kids 12 and under can eat for free with the Timbers’ new Kids-Eat-Free plan.
Friday’s match will be broadcast live online at
www.portlandtimbers.com
. Sunday’s contest will air live on 95.5 The Game. A live video webcast of both matches will be available through USL Live – now a free service at www.usllive.com. Both will also be broadcast live in Spanish on 910AM+1390AM ESPN Deportes.
THE FINAL STRETCH
The Timbers continue their stretch of three games in seven days this weekend against Austin and Cleveland. In the month of September, Portland plays all five of its final regular-season matches within a 15-day span. The Timbers play host to the City Stars in their 2009 regular-season finale on Thursday, Sept. 17, at PGE Park.
WELCOME BACK
On Sunday, the City Stars (3-17-7, 16pts) make their first trip to Portland this season to play the Timbers. However, Cleveland is led by former Timbers assistant coach
Rod Underwood
, who is also making his first trip back to PGE Park since joining the USL First Division expansion club in February. Underwood was an assistant under current Timbers head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
from 2007-08.
Sunday’s contest marks the second meeting between the Timbers and City Stars this season. In their first-ever matchup, the Timbers out-shot the City Stars 24-4 on May 9, but played to a 0-0 draw in Cleveland. Portland goalkeeper
Steve Cronin
did not have to record a save to earn a shutout in the match. The two sides meet again on Sept. 17 to close out the Timbers regular-season schedule.
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 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.
