Goalie Burse will miss next two Timber games

FC Dallas wants him back, but Portland is optimistic he'll finish season in USL

By Steve Brandon

The Portland Tribune, Jun 3, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Ray Burse, the Portland Timbers' No. 1 goalie, started for MLS FC Dallas on Sunday and will miss the next two Portland games.

The Portland Timbers will be without their No. 1 goalkeeper, Ray Burse, for games Thursday at home against Minnesota and Saturday at Vancouver.

"He'll be gone," Portland coach and General Manager Gavin Wilkinson says.

Burse, who is on loan to the Timbers, played for Dallas in its 2-1 loss Sunday at Colorado. He was a last-minute fill-in for injured Dario Sala, who was unable to go because of a nagging hip injury.

Dallas plays Friday at New England. Sala's hip is said to be better, but "I believe Ray will play," Wilkinson says.

The Timbers are hopeful that Burse will be back for the majority of their remaining schedule, though.

"Dallas indicated that they would not call him back," Wilkinson says. "They just need to get through this stretch."

The other Dallas goalie, 17-year-old Josh Lambo, broke his jaw March 30 and is expected to continue working his way back while playing for the reserve squad.

Jordan James is expected to make his second start for Portland on Thursday, with Steve Reese the backup goalie.

Sala's improvement was noted Tuesday in the Dallas camp.

"Dario is good," coach Marco Ferruzzi says. "Everything has checked out clear from last week. I think his hips were out of position. He's been getting treatment from the chiropractor and has been cleared by the doctor in terms of any long-term issues. He's working himself back.

"I think he took some handling today," Ferruzzi added Tuesday after training. "He will get a little bit more aggressive tomorrow. I think he'll be fine. I haven't spoken with [head trainer] Josh [Watts] yet but think he will be fine. So, I would call him probable."

After Saturday's game in Vancouver, the Timbers face three matches in five days, from June 10 through June 14 — a U.S. Open Cup game against Hollywood United, a league match with Atlanta and an exhibition with Juventus Primavera.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit