USL News Feature

by Jeff Crandall

Thursday, August 20, 2009

PORTLAND, OR – When Portland’s Ryan Pore takes his place on the left side of midfield Saturday night, more than the Timbers 22-game unbeaten streak will be on the line.

The Tulsa University alum will look to extend his 2009 league best five-match goal scoring run as Portland hosts Miami FC at 10:00 pm ET (on USLlive.com). A win against the Blues at PGE Park would make the Timbers the first USL-1 club to write their playoff ticket in 2009.

“I’m pleased with what I’ve been able to contribute this year,” said Pore. “We’re a deep team and when it hasn’t been me, others have stepped up.”

After sitting out for nearly two months with a concussion and knee injury, Pore returned to the Timbers lineup on August 1, scoring in the club’s 1-1 draw at Minnesota. The former Kansas City Wizard has gone on to hit the back of the net in every game this month and was awarded USL Goal of the Week for his 83rd minute strike in Portland’s 1-0 victory at Montreal on August 12.

The goal was one of three winners he has produced since going on his August rush. He has eight on the season.

“It’s very difficult to go to Saputo Stadium and get a result,” he said “We had played a tough game and Kevin [Forrest] did well to find me in the box towards the end of the match. It was nice to get the winner in there and keep our run alive.”

For Timbers manager Gavin Wilkinson, Pore has been an integral part in the turnaround that has seen the club vault from the very bottom of the USL First Division in 2008 to top of the table this season.

“We were fortunate to pick Ryan up after he trialed with a few other teams earlier this year,” said the former New Zealand international. “We saw the value in him that other clubs seemed to miss and his performance for us this year speaks for itself.”

A dynamic player who combines speed and athleticism with the ability to run at defenders, Pore adds more than just talent to the Timbers locker room.

“The experience he brings from Kansas City has been helpful to have on our team this season,” said Wilkinson. “At the end of the day, he has shown everyone he’s here to get the job done. He is a likeable guy who brings motivation into training every day.”

Pore is quick to point to others for what his side has accomplished this year.

“Being out for two months, many other guys have put in performances to keep us unbeaten,” said Pore. “At the same time, Gavin and Amos [Magee] have done a good job of instilling a professional environment in the team, which players feed off of. I have a lot of respect for both of them.”

As the club enters the home-stretch, the target on their back continues to grow but the chances of lengthening their run through the end of the season seems high if they can make it through August.

In seven remaining matches, the Timbers play just one more team in the league’s top four -  Friday, August 28 at Charleston. Two games each against Austin and Cleveland at the end of the season have the side looking favorites to remain atop the USL First Division and claim the first round playoff bye that goes to the league’s regular season champion.

“Finishing first was the goal from the beginning of the season,” said Pore. “If we do that, we’ll only have more to accomplish.”

Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer