PORTLAND, Ore.
–
The Portland Timbers play host to a week with two premier events, starting Wednesday as they take on Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC in the third round of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at PGE Park at 7 p.m.
A limited number of tickets remain for the Timbers’ matchup with Seattle and start at $12. Tickets can be purchased through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
On Thursday, Spirit Mountain Casino presents the Timbers vs. Bayern Munich II exhibition powered by Lufthansa and Widmer Brothers at PGE Park at 7 p.m. Tickets for the international exhibition start at $15 and are available through the PGE Park box office, Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
The Timbers defeated the Kitsap Pumas and Sonoma County Sol in the first two rounds of the U.S. Open Cup to advance to face Seattle. Wednesday will be the first official meeting between the Northwest rivals since Seattle joined MLS this season. The Portland-Seattle rivalry dates back to 1975 when the two sides were members of the North American Soccer League. The Timbers were 11-16-5 against the Sounders from 2001-08 as foes in the USL First Division.
The Timbers’ U.S. Open Cup match against Seattle will be broadcast live on FSN with Timbers broadcaster
Andy McNamara
and Sounders FC announcer
Peter Fewing
calling the action. A live audio broadcast will air on 95.5 The Game, with a live video webcast available through USL Live – now a free service at www.usllive.com.
The winner of Wednesday’s match will move on to the quarterfinal round on July 7 and meet the winner of the match between the Minnesota Thunder and Kansas City Wizards of MLS.
The Timbers face the top, up-and-coming players from one of Germany’s top clubs on Thursday when they play Bayern Munich II in a special exhibition match at PGE Park. Coached by German soccer icons Mehmet Scholl and Gerd Mueller, Bayern Munich II features several players with first-team experience, competing in Germany’s famed top league, the Bundesliga.
The Bayern Munich II roster is also highlighted by several rising stars on the international stage, including forward
Deniz Yilmaz
, who led the German U-17 National Team to a third-place finish in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and defender
Björn Kopplin
, who was on the German National Team that captured the 2008 UEFA U-19 Championship.
The exhibition against Bayern Munich II is the second of three international friendlies this season for the Timbers. On May 31, the Timbers defeated the Club America reserves from Mexico 4-1 at PGE Park. Portland plays host to English Premier League club Burnley FC on July 25, at PGE Park.
The Timbers take to the road for their next four USL First Division matches, starting Saturday, July 4, against the Minnesota Thunder at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific).
FORWARD MANDJOU KEITSA NAMED USL FIRST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
United Soccer Leagues announced today that forward
Mandjou Keita
was named the USL First Division Player of the Week for Week 12, and forward
George Josten
was selected to the USL First Division Team of the Week. Keita contributed two goals, while Josten recorded two assists in the Timbers’ 4-0 win over the Montreal Impact at PGE Park over the weekend. It’s Ketia’s second USL First Division Player of the Week nomination this season.
