The Portland Timbers played their second pre-season exhibition on February 10, facing the Montreal Impact, a former rival from the Timbers' previous days in lower division soccer that now joined them in MLS. While the action was brisk at points, neither side could muster a goal as the teams played to a scoreless draw.

While doing some research into the team and thinking about possible holiday gifts for the Timbers, all Timbers fans got a huge gift courtesy of the team. The Timbers announced they were hosting a four team pre-season tournament at JELD-WEN Field between February 27 and March 4 featuring the Timbers, fellow MLS clubs Chivas USA and San Jose, and famed Swedish first division side AIK.

Let's kick of championship weekend with the 2011 Battle of the Year final, which is about to start as I post. First, we will have popping/locking exhibitions, then we learn the finalists after semifinal battles between Battle Born (USA) & 9 States (Japan) & favorites Vagabonds (France) v TPEC (Taiwan).

On one hand, it's great some of the best club teams in the world come to the U.S. to play MLS teams as warm-ups for their own leagues. These teams are in their early-season practices getting ready for their respective seasons and U.S. Soccer fans are treated to seeing some of the world's best Soccer players.

I play a little catchup with Timbers news after spending some much needed vacation time in Las Vegas with fellow members of the Timbers Army. Despite the challenges of finding a viewing spot for the Timbers - Fire match, the trip was worth it regardless of the result. Granted, the win in Chicago certainly added to the experience.

Adrian Hanauer has been around soccer most of his life. Never has he had to endure something quite like the Seattle Sounders 7-0 pasting at the hands of Manchester United. He did not enjoy that part, even admitting to being "humiliated," and does not intend to allow it to happen again.

In talking to him just about 24 hours after the loss -- plenty of time to think it over and long enough to have a pretty astute sense of the public reaction -- he stopped well short of promising to forgo future midseason exhibitions, but he did promise a different attitude if the team does play them.

Famed Mexican team Club America paid a visit to JELD-WEN Field to play the Portland Timbers in an exhibition match. A 16th minute goal by Club America midfielder Angel Reyna was the only tally of the night, which featured some great late play from Timbers reserve forward Brian Umony and the return of forward Bright Dike from injury.

Rick Curwen, community bloggerRodney Wallace is closely guarded by Ajax forward Aras Ozbiliz during the international exhibition match between the Timbers and Dutch Champions Ajax.Rick Curwen, community bloggerVurnon Anita tries to put space between himself and James Marcelin. Anita was...

One of the legendary clubs of Europe, AFC Ajax, paid a visit to Portland to play a match versus the Portland Timbers. Displaying talent evident for one of the best teams in the Dutch national league, Ajax used goals from Lorenzo Ebecilio and Demy de Zeeuw to post a 2 to 0 victory. The Timbers return to MLS league play on May 29 with an afternoon match versus D.

The Timbers have plenty of action going on this Memorial Day weekend, as all three Timbers clubs will be in action. The First Team has a friendly with AFC Ajax on May 25 and a league match on May 29, the Reserves will play Seattle Sounders FC on May 30, while the Timbers U-23 have two home matches on May 25 and May 29.

The Portland Timbers faced the San Jose Earthquakes in the second round play in match to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup tournament later this summer. The Timbers gave some of their youthful players a chance to show their skills in front of the home fans, and for almost 120 minutes they were up for the challenge.

Manchester United is coming to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday, July 23rd at 7:00 PM CST. There is still no official date for tickets to be sold but we have obtained some pre-sale information for anyone who wants to get a head start on their purchasing. Just visit the Ticketmaster.

Behind the Axe looks back at the match in Toronto that displayed an improved Portland Timbers attack and more organized defense. The results didn't match the effort, as the Timbers fell to their Canadian hosts 2 to 0. The team needs to regroup as they have two big matches this week, a qualifying match for the U.

Germany v. Italy - Dortmund - 9th February, 19:45 GMT
It's one of the rarest exhibitions in football - one that actually has all the ingredients to be an instant cracker of a match. Rarely in the world of football do you find a draw that has two spectacular teams pitted against each other in an ominous rematch from the fabled classic Semifinal (the 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP).

The Portland Timbers participated in their first competitive match of the 2011 season as part of their training camp in Ventura, CA. Taking on the Ventura County Fusion, the Timbers planned on using two complete 11 player squads per half until forward Bright Dike suffered a right leg inury which could be a torn Achilles tendon that could keep him out of competition this season.

Having had their moments of shock, anger and venting on message boards and blogs, soccer fans who are certain the new North American Soccer League is the way forward are now taking their message directly to the head man at US Soccer, Sunil Gulati. In response to USSF's revoking of sanctioning for the NASL for the 2011 season, they've sent Gulati a letter, which you can read in its entirety here or with my snarky comments after the jump.

The Portland Timbers added four players during January 18's MLS Supplemental Draft, picking up two young forwards, a defensive midfielder, and a defender from the University of Washington. Meanwhile, the Timbers also announced the initial details of their preseason training schedule, which will have them playing in two camps in California and Arizona, plus multiple weeks of training in the Rose City.