PORTLAND, Ore.
– Portland Timbers goalkeeper Josh Saunders and midfielder Jake Sagare have been named to the A-League Team of the Week for Week Five in recognition of their play in the Timbers’ 1-0 U.S. Open Cup-qualifying win at Seattle, it was announced Tuesday.
Saunders posted a career game in the shutout victory, collecting eight saves, including five in the first half to keep the Timbers undefeated at 3-0. Saunders faced 23 shots amid constant pressure throughout the match to preserve the clean slate, his first of the season.
Saunders was named to the Team of the Week once last season, when he held opponents to a 0.90 goals-against average in 16 games with Portland.
Sagare scored his first goal of the season in Saturday night’s win, knocking home the game-winner in the 52nd minute on a cross from Alan Gordon. The goal sent the Timbers to their first 3-0 start in four seasons and on to the U.S. Open Cup for the first time as well.
Sagare scored four goals for the Timbers in 2003, three of them game-winners.
TIMBERS NOTES:
Next up for the Timbers is a trip north to Vancouver on Sunday, May 23, where they’ll look to end a seven-game winless streak at Swangard Stadium … kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
