Friday’s match against the Philadelphia Union marks the end of a three-game, seven-day stretch that saw the Timbers hold off 2009 MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake 1-0, then drop a heart-breaking 1-0 loss in the final minute of overtime in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match to San Jose. In this edition of Box-to-Box, midfielder Jack Jewsbury makes a Team of the Month squad, the Timbers look to grab 3 points against another team off to a hot start in MLS, and Union midfielder Danny Mwanga makes his return to the Rose City.
Captain Jack Jewsbury earned the starting midfield spot on Soccer By Ives’ MLS Team of March/April. Jewsbury, playing a central midfield role for the Timbers, racked up two goals and two assists in seven matches through the season’s first two months. Meanwhile, midfield winger Kalif Alhassan was pegged to the Honorable Mention list following four assists in six appearances (five starts).
Corvallis Gazette Times writer Brad Fuqua profiles Timber Joey Webber, touching on Joey’s former teacher Terry Selby, a Philomath teacher and logger clown who helped touch Webber’s life as well as that of Timber Jim Serrill, and Joey’s in-game duties.
Former Oregon State and Jefferson High star Danny Mwanga makes his return to the Rose City with Philadelphia on Friday night. Union head coach Peter Nowak tells The Oregonian’s Geoffrey C. Arnold that Mwanga will get the start tonight.
Taking a step back to Tuesday night’s dramatic 1-0 overtime loss to San Jose, The Columbian’s Paul Danzer brings us this column regarding the U.S. Open Cup and how he feels U.S. Soccer must adjust the tournament’s organization and promotion to attract greater interest.
Midfielder Sal Zizzo talks about Tuesday night’s loss to San Jose with Timbers Insider blogger Kelly McLain.
DOOP scoop
Each week, we’ll give you some insight behind enemy lines and show you what they’re saying about the Timbers’ opponent.
Union midfielder Kyle Nakazawa talks to CBSPhilly on their soccer podcast about his expanding role with the team, the emergence of Amobi Okugo and host Greg Orlandini and Philly Soccer Page writer Eli Pearlman-Storch recap the Union match against San Jose and preview the upcoming match against Portland.
Head coach Peter Nowak might have to do a little shuffling of the back line on Friday with up to two notable absences. Left back Jordan Harvey is suspended following a red card picked up on April 30 against San Jose, but according to the Delaware County Daily Times, center back Danny Califf might not travel due to an illness.
The Union spent a few days practicing on a narrower field than usual in preparation for tonight’s match at JELD-WEN Field writes the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Marc Narducci.
