The Timbers clash with their Northwest rival the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at PGE Park at 7 p.m. live on FSN. Listen to tonight's match on 750 KXL or watch a live video webcast. Fans can follow in-game updates via Twitter.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Starting Lineups:
POR:
VAN:
Match Preview:
The Portland Timbers continue their busy month of April tonight as they play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps at PGE Park. Tonight’s matchup features the top two clubs in the USSF Division-2 Pro League, with both Portland and Vancouver sitting on top of their respective conferences.
Midfielder Ryan Pore continued his hot start to the 2010 USSF Division-2 Pro League season, scoring his league-high fourth goal of the campaign on April 25 to help the Timbers earn a 1-1 draw on the road against the Montreal Impact. Through the first three games of the season, the Timbers are in a two-way tie for first place in the United Soccer Leagues Conference with the Rochester Rhinos at seven points.
Tonight's match begins a four-game, regular-season series against the Whitecaps and marks the first meeting between the clubs since last season's thrilling semifinal playoff series. While Vancouver owns a 20-9-8 mark in the all-time series since 2001, the Timbers are 8-5-6 against the Whitecaps at PGE Park. Since the 2005 campaign, the Timbers have lost just one game in Portland against the Whitecaps, posting a 4-1-6 record in that stretch; the lone loss came on May 24, 2008. Last season, the Timbers were 2-1-0 against the Whitecaps, with both victories coming at PGE Park.
Through the first three games of the regular season, Portland has logged a pair of shut outs and only allowed one goal. In 2009, the Timbers shared the league lead with the fewest goals conceded (19).
Tonight’s contest is the first in a string of five consecutive home matches for the Timbers. After Puntarenas FC on Saturday, the club plays host to Crystal Palace Baltimore, AC St. Louis and Montreal in its upcoming matches.
