Timbers' Gordon sees action in L.A.

LOS ANGELES
– Reigning A-League Rookie of the Year Alan Gordon, on loan to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, is in the midst of his second playoff run of the year following the Timbers’ loss to Seattle in the conference semifinals. This time around, Gordon and the Galaxy are down 0-1 in a two-game aggregate series against the Colorado Rapids in first-round action.




Gordon made his first start with Los Angeles on Oct. 9 against the Dallas Burn, nearly netting a goal on Dallas ‘keeper Scott Garlick from inside the penalty box in first-half play.




Starting in place of injured MLS All-Star Carlos Ruiz, Gordon tallied three shots at Kansas City on Oct. 16, sending in a good look over the crossbar in the early going.




Entering Saturday night’s elimination match against the Rapids, Gordon has spread 142 minutes over three appearances with the MLS side.




INDOOR TIMBERS:
The Timbers feature three players on loan to the Major Indoor Soccer League this off-season … striker Byron Alvarez was loaned to the Chicago Storm and scored the first goal in the expansion franchise’s history on Oct. 23 … goalkeeper Bayard Elfvin will spend the off-season with his hometown Cleveland Force… forward Dan Antoniuk was loaned to the San Diego Sockers, where he played last season … Antoniuk has dished two assists through three games … Alvarez’ Storm and Elfvin’s Force will link up for games on Wednesday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 6.




PRE-SCHEDULING:
General manager Jim Taylor and head coach Bobby Howe will represent the Timbers at United Soccer Leagues’ Annual Operations Meetings in Clearwater, Fla., on Nov. 3-7. The Timbers will begin negotiations with the other 12 A-League sides to determine their 2005 schedule, which will be released at a later date.




THREE TEAMS OUT:
The Calgary Mustangs, Edmonton Aviators and Syracuse Salty Dogs have ceased operations and will not compete in the A-League in 2005, it was announced this week. Unfortunately for the Timbers, they went 7-1 against Calgary and Edmonton last season. The Timbers and Salty Dogs never met.




TICKETS ON SALE:
Timbers full- and partial-season ticket packages for the 2005 A-League soccer season are now available for purchase to the general public. Ticket packages start as low as $77.00 and are available by phoning the team’s ticket office at (503) 553-5555.