Toronto FC announced Friday that the team will travel to Portland, Oregon to play a post season friendly against USL First Division side the Portland Timbers. The game will be played at PGE Park, the home of the Timbers on Sunday October 28th with a 5pm local time kickoff.
This will be Toronto FC's first North American friendly opponent having played international competition earlier this year at BMO Field. TFC hosted Portugal's Benfica in May, and English Premier League side Aston Villa in July.
"We've been invited by Portland to come and play, and we're looking forward to the trip," said Head Coach Mo Johnston. Portland's a great city, and we look forward to playing a good game there."
"With this season's U.S. Open Cup tournament as an example, the competition level between the MLS and USL First Division is very close," said Timbers General Manager and Head Coach Gavin Wilkinson. "This is our chance to compete against the top level of soccer in North America; it should be a great game."
This will be the fourth exhibition match for the Timber's this season. Portland hosted three international exhibition matches during the 2007 season against Mexico's Club Necaxa, Italy's AC Milan Primavera, and England's Preston North End. This will be their first exhibition game against MLS competition since they faced the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005.
Since 2001, the Timbers have played 5 games against MLS opponents, including three exhibition matches. Portland suffered losses to San Jose Earthquakes in U.S. Open Cup play in 2004 and 2005. They are 2-1-0 in exhibition action with a pair of wins over the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and L.A. Galaxy in 2002.
About Portland - Since joining the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division, previously called the A-League, in 2001, the Timbers have quickly established a tradition of success, posting five winning seasons - and have advanced to the playoffs in four of the past six years. Former Timbers defender and assistant coach Gavin Wilkinson is now at the helm for the Timbers. Wilkinson, who also doubles as the club's General Manager, is the only player to have played in each of the Timbers' first six seasons, 2001-2006. The Timbers finished second in the standings this season, losing the USL-1 semifinal on penalties to the Atlanta Silverbacks.
