Abe Asher

The stats tell one story. The heartbreak tells another. The Vancouver Whitecaps signed Welsh journeyman striker Robert Earnshaw on Wednesday. Some 72 hours later, he snuck between the Timbers’ center-backs and nabbed a totally undeserved, stoppage time, game-winning goal. The last time Vancouver beat Portland, ‘Caps manager Carl Robinson stood in the middle of the […]

After three consecutive draws to open the season, the Portland Timbers travel north to Canada to take on their increasingly bitter rival Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at BC Place (5:00 PM, TV on ROOT Sports, Radio on 750 AM the Game.) Both teams have been bruised, battered, and depleted going into this matchup—Portland because […]

It looked like a 0-0 draw after less than 20 minutes. Both the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City were too competent in defense, too tough in central midfield, and too dull in attack to spark a competitive game to life Saturday night at Sporting Park. The 0-0 result was the Timbers’ third consecutive draw […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers After two entertaining home draws to begin the season, the Portland Timbers go on the road for the first time in 2015 for a Saturday afternoon tilt with Sporting Kansas City (5:30 PM, TV on ROOT Sports, Radio on 750 AM the Game.) With Kansas City’s move to the Western Conference effective […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers We’d seen an advance script of this finish. The Timbers would, mostly against the run of play, grab a goal in stoppage time to deny the LA Galaxy, sending a packed Providence Park into raptures and sending Bruce Arena down his touchline huffing and puffing and shaking his head like some oblivious […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers After coming oh-so-close to the opening day win their play deserved last Saturday night, the Portland Timbers suit up for round two of their 2015 MLS season, when the defending champions LA Galaxy come calling at Providence Park (4 pm, TV on Fox Sports 1, Radio on 750 AM the Game). Opening […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers After a furious scramble, the Timbers were unable to find the game-winning goal in their first match of the new season, against Real Salt Lake, at an ear-splitting Providence Park. It ended as a 0-0 draw, one that saw every inch fought for, every ball contested, and every moment of drama amplified […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers Opening day is sacred in all sports, but this one will be especially so for MLS, because it almost didn’t happen. Throughout the off-season, contentious negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between players and owners produced little but acrimony and unease. Tuesday night, player representatives from 19 of the 20 MLS […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers Already bruised and battered, with the new season hanging on a cliff, the Portland Timbers are ready to play for real. There are some familiar faces on this year’s lineup, including all four of the all-stars in team history and five players who were around for the inaugural MLS season in 2011. […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers Portland polishes off Stabaek 1-0 in their final preseason game. The Portland Timbers finally got a win in their final preseason game, beating Norwegian side Stabaek 1-0 thanks to a goal from Fanendo Adi. A lockout not withstanding, the Timbers open the regular season one week from today at home against Real […]

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers Portland loses Ben Zemanski, first preseason game to Vancouver Whitecaps. We got 23 minutes of peace, at least. Then, the Portland Timbers midfielder Ben Zemanski crumpled to the Providence Park turf—the kind of non-contact collapse that can only mean one thing. Caleb Porter confirmed Zemanski’s torn ACL within the first five words […]