While T2 defeated the Premier League's Newcastle United in an exhibition friendly earlier this week 4-3, it was hardly the first time an EPL side played at Providence Park. Ten years ago today, the Portland Timbers took on an international opponent for the first time since the club was reborn in 2001. And the crowd that day was the largest to see a Timbers international friendly in the first 35 years of the club.
On July 23, 2005 at then PGE Park, Portland faced off against English club Sunderland AFC, who had recently been promoted into the top-flight Premier League. The Black Cats were playing their fourth and final match of a Pacific Northwest tour that saw the club drop a 3-0 result at the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps and defeat the USL edition of the Seattle Sounders, 1-0. In addition, Sunderland beat a team comprising of the best players in British Columbia in a match held in Victoria, B.C.
The friendly, which took place in Portland’s 30th anniversary as a club, was the first international exhibition for a pro Timbers side since a 1981 match against West Bromwich Albion and the first for any club called the Portland Timbers since the APSL version of the team drew with the Harry Redknapp-coached AFC Bournemouth in May of 1990.
A record crowd was on hand for the match with an announced attendance of 15,376. The attendance set numerous records as it was the highest attended international friendly in the club’s NASL/USL eras and was also the highest attended of any Timbers match in the first six years of the USL era. In addition to the match, those in attendance were treated to English-style concessions and a rendition of “God Save the Queen” sung by Eric Beck, who wrote the NASL Timbers anthem, “Green Is the Color.”
On the field, the teams battled to a 0-0 draw. Captaining Sunderland for the match was defender Carl Robinson, who went onto play in MLS and is the current manager of the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps. Another player of note from the match was Steven Caldwell, who went onto captain Toronto FC.
Portland’s best opportunity for a goal came when defender Nyron Nosworthy fouled Byron Alvarez inside the box. Alvarez, however, was unable to capitalize as he put his penalty kick over the crossbar. Josh Saunders--now with NYC FC--provided some key first-half saves to get the clean sheet for Portland.
In the ten years since Sunderland came to the Rose City, the Timbers have played 26 friendlies against international opposition including the likes of Ajax, Boca Juniors, and Manchester City.
