United makes first visit to Portland on Sunday
The Portland Timbers are one of two sparkling new MLS franchises, yet their history runs deep, back to the glory days of the NASL.
Their unmistakable mascot, Timber Joey, wields his chainsaw on the sideline, offering massive wood slices to whoever scores a Portland goal. A faceless capacity crowd of more than 18,000 banded together in unison to sing the national anthem for the team’s first MLS home game.
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The Timbers’ home, Jeld-Wen Field, is a former baseball stadium, but it has been converted into the toughest place in North America for visiting soccer teams this season.
| Up next |
| D.C. United at Timbers |
| When » Sunday, 5 p.m. |
| Where » Jeld-Wen Field, Portland, Ore. |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet |
And when D.C. United (3-4-3) makes its first-ever visit on Sunday, more than one familiar face will be wearing the opposing jersey.
“I hope these guys take it as a treat to go in there in this wonderful atmosphere and try to spoil the party,” United coach Ben Olsen said of the first match in D.C.’s two-match West Coast swing.
The Timbers (5-3-2) are a scary proposition for D.C. on two fronts: They are yet to lose or tie in five games at Jen-Weld Field, and they’ve scored nine of their 12 goals this season on set pieces, an area where United has been markedly deficient.
At the other end of the field, D.C. will get its first chance to play against former goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who was traded in December to Portland for goalkeeper Steve Cronin and allocation money. Cronin won’t make the trip with United, staying behind in Washington for the expected birth of his first child.
In front of Perkins, the Timbers’ first-choice right and left backs are former Maryland Terrapins Jeremy Hall and Rodney Wallace, the latter who was drafted by D.C. three seasons ago and sent west in the offseason trade that brought Dax McCarty to Washington.
“He’s lucky he’s not on my side of the field,” United midfielder Chris Pontius said of Wallace, his roommate of two years. “I might just run over there at some point.”
United will need to counterpunch carefully with both starting forwards not at full strength. Charlie Davies (hamstring) is doubtful, and Josh Wolff (groin) is also returning slowly from injury.
The smaller-dimensioned, artificial surface at Jeld-Wen is also expected to come into play, limiting time on the ball, another element of a unique setting that has quickly become one of the most recognizable in MLS.
“It’s not been the prettiest soccer,” Pontius said. “But they understand how to win.”
