UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. Playing at JELD-WEN Field under normal circumstances is intimidating. Playing there in a season opener is even worse.
The New York Red Bulls have the honors (or bad luck) of having to play out the second scenario, as they visit Caleb Porter and the new-look Portland Timbers on Sunday in their first game of 2013.
The Boys in Green finally got a win on the road in the most satisfying of circumstances, holding their opponents to just a single shot on the frame and bringing the Cascadia Cup back to the Rose City.
First half
The first few minutes of the game were slow for both teams, with neither side looking confident on the ball.
D.C. United earned a hard fought 1-1 draw tonight in Portland with a dogged defensive performance. The draw keeps United firmly in 4th place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings with hard-charging Houston and Columbus just behind.
This is where I typically open up with some witty paragraph introducing the article and making a
brief note about the state of the site. Well, I've got nothing, folks. Let's get straight to the
important stuff:
1) Chin to Chicago?
This won't do much to quell those who believe I'm a closet Sporting Kansas City supporter, but
SKC commentator Callum Williams recently tweeted about how Orlando City striker Dennis Chin is
currently on trial with the Fire.
Article by Nate Sulat
If history is any indication, the Montreal Impact is facing an uphill climb in its first MLS
season.
With the exception of the Seattle Sounders – who made the MLS Cup playoffs and won the US Open
Cup in 2009 – the seven teams that have entered the league since 2005 are a combined 48-121-53 in
their maiden campaigns.
Pollyanna had a hand in writing this one. You know, the girl with the constant optimism? Over
the last 6 weeks I have been pretty much depressed every Saturday night, except for the week of the
Sporting KC Game. However with the help of the community here I got through it and now I want to
help everyone else.
The Portland Timbers were welcomed home to the Rose City by a slight drizzle and some short
field, 9v9 scrimmaging. New signing Franck Songo'o was on display, looking dangerous as a left
midfielder and sporting bright orange shoe laces that could probably be seen from space while
Charles Renken got his first taste of training in Portland.
The Portland Timbers have released a few billboards across the Rose City. I have to say, most
are on par with last year's bunch. Check the rest out here.
As we near the beginning of the second MLS campaign in Portland Timbers history, we find
ourselves saying goodbye to one of the most unintentionally polarizing players from our first
season in MLS: Kenny "F-ing" Cooper.
Please use this thread to share your memories, both positive and negative, of Coop's time in
Portland.
We've already known a bit about the preseason details including the upcoming pre-season
tournament with Chivas USA, the San Jose Earthquakes and AIK of Sweden, but until today we didn't
know too much else. Well, today's that has all changed with the Timbers releasing almost everything
we could have asked for.
The Portland Timbers officially revealed their third kit that honors the legacy of the club from
previous eras. It also appears that the team could finally be ready to announce some upcoming
player signings in preparation for their home opener in March. The Timbers did learn that it will
be the Philadelphia Union that will be visiting the Rose City to play the Timbers on March 12 on
ESPN2.
Luke Rodgers is calling for a victory tonight. (Getty Images)
It comes down to one final week for Major League Soccer. Week 32 is already underway after last
night's 1-1 draw between DC United and the Portland Timbers. The team from the Rose City continues
to fight on for another game while DC United sees their season and their playoff dreams come to an
end.
The Portland Timbers needed a win in the worst way and with the pressure of fighting for their
playoff lives looming, the Timbers delivered a first-class performance that has fans in the Rose
City dreaming of the post-season.
The Timbers rolled right through the visiting New England Revolution, scoring early and taking
control of a match the Revs never seemed to have much of a chance in, as Diego Chara, Kenny Cooper
and Darlington Nagbe scored goals in a 3-0 romp at Jeld-Wen Field on Friday night.
Already considered one of the best atmospheres in MLS, Jeld-Wen Field seems poised to reach a
whole new level Sunday afternoon.
That's when the historic Pacific Northwest derby between the Portland Timbers and Seattle
Sounders comes to the Rose City for the first time in league history.
It's been announced that the Portland Timbers will wear their Rose City secondary kits this
Saturday against the Colorado Rapids in honor of the Grand Floral Parade.
It was nice having the Saturday off from a Portland Timbers game. Not that Timbers games are
"work" or any such thing, but I do enjoy getting the chance to watch as many weekend MLS matches as
possible as it helps me figure out just how well the Timbers are doing overall, especially in terms
of tactics.
While much of the region, much of MLS, much of the USA, North America, the WORLD will be focused
on what happens in the stands. This is a game on the pitch, and the results matter. It is the first
of the contests in the Cascadia Cup 2011, and both teams may look at this match as being one that
determines their MLS Cup Playoff seeding.
Photo Credit: Free Beer MovementOn April 14, 2011 the Portland Timbers made their smashing Major
League Soccer debut. The American soccer world was blown away at the sights and sounds of the
league's newest members. A renovated stadium, a supporters-fueled National Anthem, and a team that
brought home a victory for the home fans.
The wait if finally almost over and as Merritt Paulson put it "How can the shortest off-season
in American sports seem so long?" Sure felt that way especially after the doldrums of December.
Games start in earnest this Saturday and carry over all the way to Monday Night Football when
20,000 of our closest friends will be releasing all that pent up energy from the off-season.
"The second episode of the monthly Pitch Invasion podcast, focused on North American soccer,
features interviews with DC United General Manager Dave Kasper on the club's upcoming MLS season
and general development, and a conversation with Jeremy Wright of the Timbers Army, discussing the
growth and future of supporter culture in Portland and nationwide following the recent Independent
Supporters Council conference hosted in the Rose City.
The second episode of the monthly Pitch Invasion podcast, focused on North American soccer,
features interviews with DC United General Manager Dave Kasper on the club's upcoming MLS season
and general development, and a conversation with Jeremy Wright of the Timbers Army, discussing the
growth and future of supporter culture in Portland and nationwide following the recent Independent
Supporters Council conference hosted in the Rose City.
Rodney Wallace is fast. He is good with ball at his feet. He has a wicked shot. He crosses well.
He gets into dangerous positions. He is occasionally out of position on defense. His passing is not
always on target. He occasionally loses his man.
Does he belong in the midfield or manning the defense?
From the Timbers Insider The Timbers finish up a three match home stand on Friday as they
welcome the Philadelphia Union to the Rose City for a 9:00 p.m. game at JELD-WEN
Field. The match will be shown live on FOX Soccer as they debut the new "Soccer Night in
America."
The match also marks the first homecoming for the 2010 #1 SuperDraft pick Danny Mwanga.
The news that Sal Zizzo is planning to open a food cart spread like wildfire last week, and
everyone wanted to talk about it after the training session on Monday. Among the other topics of
conversation were Houston's long awaited return to the Rose City and what special significance that
has to Mike Chabala and Lovel Palmer.
Now I haven't checked my Soccer Gods Handbook yet but I do believe there is a provision
in there that states that the home team is not allowed to concede a goal in stoppage time, on
Father's Day, when I'm at the game. Right? For the second straight week that's what happened at
JELD-WEN field in Portland as the Timbers again didn't capitalize on their chances and ended up
denying themselves some extra points in the standings.
You can find the full report on everything you need to know about MLS Week 9 later today when
the men behind the big computers at SI.com central work-up and pretty-up my weekly Five Things You
Need to Know recap. (Update: find it here now) Until then, here's your super-fast weekend
report:
TRENDING UP
Chivas USA: Robin Fraser is doing it with duct tape and safety pins.
U.S. WNT and former Portland Pilot stars Stephanie Cox visited Town Hall on Wednesday to give a few
gifts to local politicians and receive a proclamation (see below) from the Mayor and the city of
Portland proclaiming a Day of Recognition for the U.S. WNT. That's one of many things we love about
Portland.
Abby tallies in the 10th minute from the penalty spot
The U.S. WNT played its first match since the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup last night at the
fantastic LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (the best medium-sized stadium in the country? Could be....) and
while the Americans showed some flashes of dynamic soccer, there was also some rust to be shaken
off, and probably the best part of the night was the crowd.
Hopefully a good metaphor for the Timbers after the game The Rapids head for the
Rose City on Friday night to face the Timbers, a team they have never lost to. Portland, of course,
is where long-time Rapids fan favorite Kosuke Kimura was traded to and I'm sure he's going to want
to show Colorado what they're missing.
We all know about the road woes of Portland in the 2011 season and almost every "expert" on the
interwebs pointed to this very fact and pointed out that if Portland wanted to make some noise come
play off time they would need to make some strides on the road. Winning on the road all comes down
to mentality, meaning you have to be mentally prepared to receive no support from anyone besides
someone in Timbers Green or Rose City Red.
What a beautiful day it was for soccer (or pretty much anything else) today in Portland as the U.S.
WNT held its first training since arriving in the Rose City on Sunday night. Pia turned the squad
over to the folks at Nike, who ran the players through the Nike Elite Training 2.0, which consists
of various physical and soccer tests, or more accurately:
PREMIUM FOOTBALL TRAINING EXPERIENCE TO ENABLE SKILLED AND COMMITTED FOOTBALLERS TO FULFILL THEIR
POTENTIAL.
For the second time this inaugural season, we say goodbye to another member of the Timbers
family. Today's departure: D/M Jeremy Hall, who is now moving on to FC Dallas. Luckily, we will not
see them until next season, so Hall will not be able to flame us like our previous departure
(Moffatt) did.
