<strong>Road Trip to First Kick</strong><img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/First_Kick_logo_250x123.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="90"><p>
Starting March 6, join MLSsoccer.com’s <strong>Jackie Pickering</strong> and <strong>Nick Firchau</strong> as they travel from LA to Vancouver, checking in on all the West Coast teams, meeting with fans, and stopping into adidas HQ in Portland to pick up the game ball for First Kick on March 15 at Qwest Field.</p><p><img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/pickering-small.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90"><img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/firchau-small-mug.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90"></p> |
TUKWILA, Wash. — Just days after signing a contract with the Timbers, Jack Jewsbury talked about a career resurgence in Portland.
That resurgence began in earnest on Friday night, when Jewsbury wore the captain's armband as he helped his new team edge past Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders, 2-0.
Playing in his Timbers debut, the 29-year-old marshaled the midfield throughout the 90 minutes, constantly pestering Seattle forward Fredy Montero while providing the occasional attacking threat through the middle.
WATCH: Full match highlights
"Jack is that type of player who goes around and does his business in a very professional manner on the field," head coach John Spencer said. "He's got great experience. I think tonight he showed a lot of people why we traded for him."
Jewsbury played the last eight seasons with KC, appearing in 195 regular-season matches and recording 15 goals and 21 assists. He ranks among the franchise's all-time career leaders in games played and was named the team's best defensive player in 2008.
Portland traded allocation money to KC on Tuesday to land Jewsbury.
"When we heard he was possibly coming available, [club general manager Gavin Wilkinson] worked really hard to get him here," Spencer said. "I'm very happy to have him on the squad."
It may have been just a preseason match, and it remains to be seen who will captain the side in Portland's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday — and beyond — but for now, Spencer is pleased with his acquisition's leadership.
"We've kind of moved [the captain's armband] around this preseason to find who's the right guy," Spencer said. "Obviously we've brought someone in at 29 years old, who's probably a veteran on this team. … He's probably the oldest guy on the team, which says a lot about our youth and enthusiasm."
The Timbers next take the field against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at 7 pm ET (streamed live at www.portlandtimbers.com), while the Sounders have a day off before wrapping up the Cascadia Summit on Sunday at 6 pm ET against Vancouver (streamed live on www.soundersfc.com).
