SoccerBlogs

Tonight the Portland Timbers will face off against the San Jose Earthquakes. There will be plenty of headlines that come out of it, I'm sure, but really they won't matter all that much. You see, the following week, the Timbers have to play San Jose again. So whatever happens tonight is really just half of the full story.

Christine Sinclair got a goal by penalty kick, but not much else happened aside from that. Disappointingly, aside from a few plays, Alex Morgan seemed completely quiet all game. Despite that, however, there were certainly some positives for the Portland Thorns' first ever NWSL game.

So who made our first ever Woman of the Match?

This brief training report is getting typed up during my break at work, so pardon the lack of fun stuff like quotes or detail.

Today's practice was a short, closed session at Jeld-Wen field. Practice kicked off with the usual warm ups before being closed off to the press, although the field was set up for a series of keep away games.

This is it. After months of planning, preparation, crest unveiling, player acquiring, and all around "getting stuff done" the league is about to kick off their inaugural match. It's a bit of a shame that it won't open with all the glory and splendor that will be Jeld-Wen Field next weekend, but it's a momentous occasion nonetheless.

Welcome back to our weekly prediction thread! As usual, we want your crystal ball predictions of how the upcoming game will turn out, but first let's take a look at how people did last week.

Over all, people were much more on target than they have previously. That makes sense because, as Timbers fans, people usually predict them to win and last weekend was the first time they actually did so.

The Portland Timbers look to take on the San Jose Earthquakes for the first time since their preseason tournament.

On Sunday, the Portland Timbers will host the San Jose Earthquakes in the first game of a home and away series. This means that the Timbers as well as San Jose will each have two opportunities to really learn and react to each sides' respective strategies.

Thorns FC travel to take on FC Kansas City in the first NWSL match.

5:35 p.m. PDT

Match will be streamed online.

This Saturday's match between the Thorns and FC Kansas City isn't, of course, just the inaugural match of a brand new league.

5:35 p.m. PDT

Match will be streamed online.

This Saturday's match between the Thorns and FC Kansas City isn't, of course, just the inaugural match of a brand new league. It's all sorts of things: The last ditch effort for a pro women's league in this country; a referendum on the sustainability of women's sports; a statement about Portland culture.

The Timbers held a closed practice session today at their Beaverton training facility as they ramp up preparations to take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. The Timbers started things off with their usual warmup routine before closing practice to the press.

Looking forward to the weekend's game, Ryan Johnson expressed confidence in the team's attack.

A couple of tidbits came across the wire in the past 24 hours.

First: Timbers Army partner bar Beulahland (118 NE 28th) will be showing the Thorns FC inaugural match, which starts at 5:35 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Southeast's Bazi Bierbrasserie (1522 SE 32nd) also will be showing the match. The match will not be on television, but is being streamed online.

Professional. It implies that somebody is not only competent at their job, but also being a paid a living wage based on that their competency. In truth, it provides an air of authenticity to anybody who is able to successfully wield it. Unfortunately, for most NWSL players that word can hardly be used.

The Portland Thorns FC are kicking off their season tomorrow. Months of planning, preparation and, most importantly, questions will come to a head when they take on FC Kansas City in the NWSL's inaugural match. A week after that will be the Thorns home opener for the 2013 season. It's exciting, to say the least.

A little late but it is always better late than never as they always say. Last week was a low scoring week for a lot of fantasy managers out there but that doesn't mean this week will be. Let's start with the important information.

• Last day to confirm your team is 10:45 AM on Saturday
• Only team with a bye this week will be Sporting Kansas City
• Double check your teams of injuries (I had Valeri and two others who were questionable)

You could compare the 2012 and the 2013 seasons in a multitude of ways. Some of those ways would be quantifiable, like stats, and some of those would be qualitative, like the "eye ball test." One of the obvious changes between the three seasons was a change that has moved the Portland Timbers from a first half team to a second half team.

Over the last two weeks the Portland Timbers have had a select group of their academy players training alongside the first team, taking direction from the first team coaches, and even taking part in some first team drills. It was the first time since the Academy's incorporation that so many of the U-16's and U-18's were invited to join the first team.