PORTLAND, Ore. –
The Portland Timbers open the 2010 USSF Division-2 Pro League season Saturday as they play host to the Rochester Rhinos at PGE Park at 7 p.m. For the seventh time since 2001, the Timbers open the regular season at home.
Timbers Opening Night, presented by PGE, features a full slate of activities. The first 2,000 fans receive a 2010 magnet schedule courtesy of PGE and an Opening Night t-shirt presented by your Northwest Metro Kia Retailers and the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. The night will also include the unveiling of a commemorative Commissioner’s Cup banner, recognition of retired Timbers players as well as food and beverage specials prior to kickoff from 6-7 p.m.
Tickets start at $12 in advance and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
The Timbers wrapped up a six-week preseason training camp last weekend with a training game against Seattle University. Portland posted a 5-1-1 record during preseason games, recording victories over Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC and Northwest-rival Vancouver. The Timbers return 15 players from the 2009 squad that won the USL First Division Commissioner’s Cup as the regular-season champion.
Saturday’s match marks the first of two regular-season meetings against Rochester and will be the Rhinos’ only scheduled visit to the Rose City in 2010. Last season, the Timbers were 2-1-0 against the Rhinos, and the lone loss ended Portland’s record-breaking, 24-game unbeaten streak. Since 2001, the Timbers have a 3-9-2 record against Rochester.
The Timbers are 4-5-0 in season-opening matches since 2001; Portland has never faced Rochester in a season-opening matchup.
Rochester, also a part of the United Soccer Leagues Conference in 2010, enters its second game of the regular season Saturday. Last weekend, they played the Miami FC Blues to a 1-1 draw on the road; defender Ryan Heins scored for the Rhinos.
Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on 95.5 The Game with
Andy McNamara
and
John
Strong
calling the action; an hour pre-game show begins at 6 p.m. A live Spanish-language broadcast will be available on 910AM+1390AM ESPN Deportes. Additionally, a live video webcast will be available at
www.portlandtimbers.com
.
