Timbers: Thumbs up for new goalie; Hot Puerto Rico en route

Islanders, Mexico's Tigres will keep Portland busy

The Portland Tribune, Jul 7, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Coach Gavin Wilkinson gives new goalkeeper Brad Knighton good reviews after his two games, both exhibitions, with the team.

“Everything about him has been magnificent,” Wilkinson says. “He definitely is a great professional who seems to have a great mentality, a great attitude.”

The Timbers were swept by Mexico’s Morelia 2-0 Thursday at PGE Park and 3-1 Sunday at Seattle’s Memorial Stadium.

Morelia got a penalty kick and scored on a “very poor defensive effort,” Wilkinson says, to build a 2-0 lead. Their third goal came off an attempted Portland clearance.

“There was nothing Brad could do about any of the goals,” Wilkinson says.

What else did the Timbers get out of the two-game set, which had them taking a bus to and from Seattle to play in front of a sparse crowd, all while trying to rest and heal for the second half of a demanding league season?

“We’ve developed a great rapport with a top Mexican team,” Wilkinson says. “They have the same ownership as some other clubs. Obviously, we’re trying to build a relationship and show that we are a professional organization that fulfills our word. Whether this relationship leads to more exhibitions or the bonus of players in the future remains to be seen.”

Morelia wanted to play two games on this trip, and only the Timbers were in position to give them that, Wilkinson says.

Next up is a league match at home Thursday night with the Puerto Rico Islanders. They have won three in a row, beating Minnesota 3-1 and 1-0 in a three-day span in Puerto Rico and coming out of Montreal with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

Puerto Rico has 18 points and a 5-5-3 record and has played three fewer games than the Timbers, who have 21 points and are 5-5-6.

But Puerto Rico is only 1-3-1 in league away from home. In the season opener on April 17, Portland beat the Islanders 1-0 at PGE Park. The clubs tied 2-2 on May 16 in Puerto Rico.

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