Dave Knows Portland

Archives for August 2007

Timbers and Whitecaps both impotent

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TimbersThe Timbers and Whitecaps played to a 0-0 draw Saturday night at PGE Park. The Timbers have not won a game in 6 tries, and the Whitecaps have set a franchise record for futility: 10 games without a win (which they then extended to 11 games Sunday night in a draw with Minnesota).

The Timbers have one regular season home game and five road games left in the regular season. Still in first place, they’ll need to start scoring goals to stay near the top of the standings.

Read all the grisly details of Saturday’s match here.

On the bright side a Montreal/Rochester-esque 8,652 fans came out for the game. That’s over 8000 for the last two games, and no doubt the final Thirsty Thursday on the 23rd will find PGE Park (relatively) packed.

From dismay to delight at Clyde Common

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Clyde CommonNormally after a Timbers game we have few pitchers of No Pity Pale at the Bullpen Tavern.

But after Thursday’s 0-0 draw against last place Minnesota, we decided rather than try to drown our sorrows (which were pretty sufficiently Thirsty-Thursday drowned already) we’d clog our arteries. And Clyde Common was rumored to have my holy grail, poutine.

Alas, no poutine on the menu that night 🙁

But since we were already there and the service had already impressed (on our poutine-craving behalf, the waiter made a valiant, but ultimately fruitless, foray into the kitchen) we did order a Pilsner Urqell and we did try a few appetizers.

We started with the chicken fried chicken livers and the deep fried blue cheese stuffed green olives. I’d never enjoyed chicken livers before, but these were crisp and delicious. The olives were great with the beer, but the blue cheese was difficult to discern over the powerful green olive (a milder-flavored olive would have worked better for me).

We were still hungry, and I suddenly found a Gösser Pilsner in front of me, so we also ordered the fennel sausage, calamari, and deep fried potato cubes dressed with oil and squid ink. This was my favorite; every part was perfect and with the frisée and a few pieces of bread we cleaned our plate.

And then, who should come through the door but two fellow Timbers fans. They joined us at the bar and we shared, with a little help from another Gösser, two orders of french fries with harissa and crÚme fraßche for dipping.

So even though the Timbers drew with the last place team, and Clyde Common was not serving poutine that night, we had a memorable and pleasurable evening. It was my first visit to Clyde Common, and I will definitely go back. Maybe I’ll get lucky on the poutine-front next time . . .

PGE Park serves up fĂștbol y tacos de cabeza

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Chivas vs. Club AmericaThe soccer wasn’t great, but the atmosphere at PGE Park was fantastic.

The match was a ClĂĄsico de ClĂĄsicos de leyendas: Chivas de Guadalajara vs Club AmĂ©rica (leyenda translates as “legend” or, arguably in this case: “geriatric”).

Chivas won 2-0. The first goal was a pinball header after a long free kick. The second was a beautiful bending corner. América had chances, but must have taken inspiration from the Timbers Thursday night.

As we sipped Tecate and gorged on Casa Colima tacos de cabeza (delicious with red salsa, cilantro, and onions) we sat high in the North End in section 208. Families in matching red and white stripes and yellow with blue trim surrounded us. 14,761 brought PGE Park the closest to capacity I’ve witnessed first hand since the 2003 Womens World Cup matches.

As a long time member of the Timbers Army, I was humbled. If that annoying “greek chant” goes on for 10 minutes at a Timbers game the capos congratulate themselves, but at this match the noise, flag waving, and flare lighting (yes, flares – you should have seen all those sprinting blue shirted security guys!) never let up. There weren’t a whole lot of organized chants outside of the “chi-vas, chi-vas, chi-vas!” variety, but everyone in the stadium participated. I have now added “attend a soccer match in Mexico” to my list of thing to do before I die.

Allison at SoccerCityUSA has a slew of pictures. PGE Park has a write up.

Uff da! Timbers only manage a draw against Minnesota

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TimbersJosh Wicks delivered his tenth shutout of the season Thursday night at PGE Park in front of 8290 fans. The Timbers out played and out shot last place Minnesota, but could only manage a 0-0 draw.

With the one point, however, the Timbers regain sole possession of first place.

Read the Soccer City USA game report for all the details.

According to the Oregonian, we did not get to see Thunder player Tony Sanneh (former MLS and national team star) because he “did not want to play on the artificial turf at PGE Park, preferring to stick to playing on natural grass while trying to get another shot with a MLS team.”

Tonight: Timbers face Thunder in penultimate Thirsty Thursday

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TimbersThe Timbers hope to maintain their unbeaten streak at home tonight when the Minnesota Thunder visit PGE Park. A win or a draw and Portland regains sole possession of 1st place (they are currently tied with the Sounders).

According to the The Columbian, new Timber Matt Taylor is confident he can help.   The Timbers will need his reputed scoring prowess tonight as leading scorer Andrew Gregor serves the last of his two game suspension for yellow card accumulation.