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T2 Thrilled to be Part of Special Weekend in Portland

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/22/16, 10:07AM EDT

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Three-day stretch sees all four of club’s teams in action at Providence Park


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. – There’s no club in the United States quite like the Portland Timbers, but if you needed any more evidence of that, you had to only look at this weekend’s schedule at Providence Park.

Over the course of three days, from Friday through Sunday, each of the club’s four teams were in action at the stadium, with the PDL’s Portland Timbers U-23s and USL’s Portland Timbers 2 in action on Friday night, the NWSL’s Portland Thorns on Saturday, and MLS’s Portland Timbers on Sunday in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

In all, more than 45,000 fans are set to have been in the stands over the course of the weekend. For the Timbers 2 players getting the chance to take the main stage on Friday night, the experience was an inspiring one.

“It always feels really good to put on the Timbers gear and come out in front of our fans,” said forward Neco Brett. “Our fans are always loud and always supporting us and you always want to try and get three points, especially at home for them to feel happy and come out for the next game.”


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Timbers 2

Brett’s third goal in as many games wasn’t enough for T2 to come away with a victory on Friday as Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 took a 3-1 win to remain undefeated at the top of the Western Conference. That game foreshadowed Sunday afternoon’s game between the Timbers and Whitecaps, a rivalry that was renewed in the USL before both clubs made the transition to Major League Soccer prior to the 2011 season.

Earlier on Friday, the Timbers U-23s did earn a result, as a late goal by Timothy Mueller earned a 1-1 draw with Victoria Highlanders FC in front of another big school-day crowd for the lunchtime kickoff. The 2015 PDL Young Player of the Year for Lane United FC, Mueller is helping take his game to the next level in Portland this summer before returning for his junior season at Oregon State University.

Saturday night brought an even bigger turnout for the Thorns, as 15,823 saw Canadian legend Christine Sinclair return to the lineup and lead a 4-1 victory against the Washington Spirit. U.S. internationals Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath were also on target for the side, with Heath effusive in her praise for the support the club received in its return home after a four-game road trip. 


Photo courtesy Craig Mitchelldyer / Portland Thorns

“I love playing for the Thorns,” said Heath. “It’s a special place, it’s a special feeling, and I want to give my everything to this club. And so in that way, I’m just really happy to be here.”

With another sellout crowd expected for a rematch from the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs between the Timbers and Whitecaps set to wrap up the weekend, while there may be a debate as to what is the true “Soccer City USA,” there’s only one club in the country that can do what Portland is this weekend.