This Week in PTFC | Thorns with big match vs. Reign, Timbers back from international break

Brian Costello

Big Wednesday Match for the Thorns

After becoming the first team in the league to qualify for the 2021 NWSL Playoffs, Portland Thorns FC return home Wednesday to host OL Reign (7:30pm PT, TICKETS, Paramount+) in a top-of-the-table clash that could have key implications for the race for the 2021 NWSL Shield and playoff positioning.

With the top two teams earning byes in the first round and the chance to host the semifinal match at home, Wednesday match will be big. The Reign come to the Rose City undefeated in their past seven matches and, at 38 points, are one point behind the first place Thorns.

The pace doesn't let up with Portland then traveling to face the Houston Dash on Sunday, Oct. 17 in the penultimate match of the 2021 regular season (4pm PT, Paramount+).

International Duty

With an international break in the mix on the men’s side, the Timbers were off this past weekend.

Defender Bill Tuiloma, however, scored his first-ever goal in international play for New Zealand as they defeated Curaçao 2-1 in a friendly.

Read up on how Tuiloma as well as Felipe Mora and Pablo Bonilla faired with their international squads.

What a moment for Bill Tuiloma! pic.twitter.com/X7hFbLfgli
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) October 10, 2021

Timbers Back At It

Following the close of international play, the Timbers return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 16 when they travel to face the LA Galaxy (7:30pm PT, FOX 12 PLUS).

Unbeaten in their last eight matches, Portland currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference on 46 points. With the top four teams set to host the Round One match of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Timbers will be aiming to solidify their position as sixth-place LA work to stay above the playoff line. The Galaxy only have two points separating them from eighth place Vancouver.

ICYMI

Venerable Providence Park celebrated its 95th birthday this past Saturday. First known as Multnomah Stadium, the building was designed by Portland architect A.E. Doyle and constructed by the neighboring Multnomah Athletic Club on the grounds of then-Multnomah Field.

On Oct. 9, 1926, the stadium opened for a football game between the University of Oregon and the University of Washington. The Webfoots – Oregon’s nickname before being known as The Ducks – lost 23-9.

Since that game, the stadium has gone through numerous name changes and renovations, hosted concerts, soccer, dog racing, baseball, ski jumping and more before becoming the modern Providence Park we know today.