PORTLAND
, Ore.
– The Timbers scored several memorable goals during the 2009 season on their way to leading the league in scoring. Game-winning strikes, creative build-ups and excellent finishes – the Timbers had them all. View the finalists for Goal of the Year and cast a vote in the Fan Poll.
After countless recommendations from fans and staff, the field for the Timbers 2009 Goal of the Year has been narrowed down to five finalists. Voting will end on Sunday, Oct. 25, with the Goal of the Year honors announced on Monday, Oct. 26.
Alex Nimo vs. Charleston (Aug. 8)
– As part of a three-point performance, Nimo tallied his first goal of the season in a 3-1 win over the Charleston Battery at PGE Park. After helping forward Mandjou Keita give the Timbers a one-goal lead, the two teamed up again just before halftime. Following a string of several passes with precision ball movement, the ball was played into the box for Keita high on the right side with his back to goal. He slipped a pass out wide to Nimo, running down the right side. After slipping by the backline, Nimo curled a shot past Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans and inside the left post. The win helped continue the team’s record-long 24-game unbeaten streak.
George Josten vs. Cleveland (Sept. 17)
– With a USL First Division Player of the Week showing, Josten put the Timbers ahead early with the first of two goals in a 2-1 win over the Cleveland City Stars at PGE Park. In the sixth minute, midfielder Johan Claesson collected the ball in the middle of the park and looped a pass up field for Josten. As the ball bounced towards the box, Cleveland goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap left his line to challenge the play. Josten got to the ball first and chipped a high arching shot over the goalkeeper and it bounced into an open net. He struck again early in the second half, helping the Timbers win their final game of the regular season.
Ryan Pore @ Rochester (Aug. 15)
– Pore led the Timbers to their first-ever road victory over the Rochester Rhinos with a key goal in the second half. After aiding in Takayuki Suzuki’s strike, Pore added his own on a quick counter, started by Kevin Forrest, in the 74th minute. Forrest played the ball up to Keita near midfield, who then set up Pore on a breakaway with a perfectly-placed pass over the Rhinos backline. On the run, Pore headed the ball down to his feet and set up for a shot from 15 yards out. He finished his run with a blistering shot into the top left corner of the frame past goalkeeper Scott Vallow stuck on his line. With the goal, Pore had scored in five straight games and would eventually set a modern-franchise record scoring in six consecutive contests.
Mandjou Keita vs. Miami (Aug. 22)
– In one of his three two-goal performances in 2009, Keita opened the scoring of a 3-1 win over the Miami FC Blues at PGE Park with a sharply struck goal just before the end of the first half. A build up down the left side created space for midfielder Keith Savage at the top of the box. As the ball played in to Savage, he redirected it into space for Keita with a slight touch. Running on to it, Keita crushed a low drive that sliced inside a narrow window between goalkeeper Kenny Schoeni and the near post; the strike was his 10th of the season. He would score again in the contest on one of his team-high five shots on the night.
Brian Farber vs. Vancouver (Oct. 4)
– As part of his own two-goal performance, Farber scored the crucial series-tying goal in the 43rd minute of the second leg of the Timbers semifinal playoff series against the Vancouver Whitecaps. From the left side, defender David Hayes sent a ball into the box that was deflected by Keita and Whitecaps defender Shaun Pejic near the spot and found its way to the far side of the box. There on the right side, Farber headed a shot back across the goal mouth and inside the far post. The tally capped his brace and lifted the Timbers to a 2-1 lead in the game at halftime.
Last season, Suzuki’s rocket against the Seattle Sounders on April 26, 2008, at PGE Park received the Timbers’ Goal of the Year award.
