The Commissioner's Cup-champion Portland Timbers face the Cleveland City Stars tonight at PGE Park at 5 p.m. Listen to tonight's match live on 95.5 The Game or watch it live on USL Live. Live udpates are also available through Twitter.
Tonight's match is All-About-Kids Day at PGE Park. Kids 12 and under eat free prior to kickoff at 5 p.m.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Tonight's Starters:
POR: GK Cronin, D Hayes, D Thompson, D Danso, M Farber, M Claesson, M Savage, M Pore, F Keita, F McLaughlin
CLE: GK Bush, D Kante, D Kanu, D Roberts, D Stovall, M Stewart, M Oka, M Hotchkin, M Gueye, F LaCrone, F Bangura
Match Preview:
The Timbers close a stretch of three games in seven days tonight as they play host to the Cleveland City Stars at PGE Park. Tonight’s fixture is the first of two games between the two sides in the Rose City over the next five days.
With a loss by the Puerto Rico Islanders last night, Portland won its second USL First Division Commissioner’s Cup in modern-franchise history. The Timbers occupy first place with a record of 15-3-10 (55pts) and will advance to the postseason for a sixth time since joining the league in 2001. They receive a first-round bye into the semifinal round slated for Oct. 1-4.
On Friday, the Timbers were dealt their second straight home loss in a 2-1 result to the Austin Aztex. It was also the Timbers’ second loss in the last three matches. Portland had sustained just one loss in its first 25 games of the 2009 campaign. Friday’s match was also the Timbers’ first loss in their last 10 matches against an expansion team in its inaugural season.
Portland faces the City Stars for just the second time this season. Led by former Timbers assistant coach Rod Underwood, Cleveland and Portland played to a scoreless stalemate in the first-ever matchup on May 9 in Ohio. The Timbers out-shot the City Stars 24-4; midfielder Ryan Pore and forward Mandjou Keita each took four attempts to pace the team. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin did not have to make save to earn his first shutout of the season.
The Timbers backline has allowed a league-low 17 goals in 28 games this season. The team’s modern-franchise record for the fewest goals allowed in a single-season is 18, set back in 2007. Portland’s defense is also one shutout away from reaching the team’s modern-franchise mark for clean sheets in a single season (14), also set back in 2007. Former goalkeeper Josh Wicks tallied all 14 shutouts for the team that season.
After tonight’s contest, the two clubs meet again on Thursday as the Timbers wrap up their regular-season schedule. Thursday is Fan Appreciation Night at PGE Park, featuring the team’s annual Jersey-Off-Our-Back auction and post-game fireworks. The USL First Division playoffs begin Sept. 24.
