CHICAGO FIRE AT PORTLAND TIMBERS
When, where: 8 p.m. today at Jeld-Wen Field, Portland.
TV: ESPN2 (Comcast cable ch. 36). Radio: 95.5 FM (940 AM Spanish broadcast).
Tickets: The game is sold out.
PROJECTED TIMBERS STARTERS
Forwards: Kenny Cooper, Jorge Perlaza.
Midfielders: Jeremy Hall, Jack Jewsbury, James Marcelin, Sal Zizzo.
Defenders: Rodney Wallace, Kevin Goldthwaite, Eric Brunner, Steve Purdy.
Goalkeeper: Jake Gleeson.
Key alternatives: MF/F Darlington Nagbe could be selected instead of Hall, MF Adam Moffat, D Mamadu “Futty” Danso could play at central defense. Top GK Troy Perkins (knee injury) could be available.
ABOUT CHICAGO
The Fire joined Major League Soccer in 1998, the league’s third season. The Fire won both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup titles in their first year. Chicago has lost two other MLS Cup finals. After missing the playoffs in 2010 for only the second time in franchise history, Chicago had significant roster turnover for this season.
THE MATCHUP
Home debut: Will the Timbers performance match the hype around the new-look stadium and the arrival of MLS? Portland (0-2-1 in MLS) has been idle since a 1-1 draw at New England on April 2. For Chicago (1-1-1), Thursday’s match is the second of three in eight days, which lost 2-1 in Seattle on April 9 and hosts the L.A. Galaxy on Sunday.
Watch for: Which team has is able to get its wide players involved in the attack? Portland coach John Spencer wants his wide fullbacks to get forward. Chicago has been playing a bit of a hybrid formation that sometimes looks like a 3-5-2 and other times looks more like a 4-4-2. With only three Fire defenders, there could be space for overlapping Timbers to use out wide if Portland wins the possession battles. On the flip side, the Fire were dangerous at Seattle and only some great play by Sounders’ keeper Kasey Keller kept Chicago from earning at least a draw.
Players to watch: Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari have four of the Fire’s five goals this season.
Spencer says: “The fans will be in here in the thousands, but they aren’t going to score a goal for you. They aren’t going to defend for you. We have to go out and perform … That’s the bottom line.”
Jeld-Wen Field debut: Gates open to most fans at 6:30 p.m. Timbers Army season ticket holders can enter 107 minutes before kickoff through Gate 3. KeyBank Club season-ticket holders can enter two hours before kickoff through Gate 1.
Getting there: Improvements made in renovating the venue included covered sideline seating on the east side, the new KeyBank Club, a new playing surface, improved sound system and lighting. One thing that hasn’t improved is the parking. Fans are urged to use public transportation such as MAX light rail, which serves the stadium. At 5 p.m., Morrison Street and 18th Avenue adjacent to the stadium will close to automobiles.
Fun fact: This isn’t the first time a Chicago Fire team has provided the opposition for a Portland team’s debut. In 1974, the Chicago Fire was the opponent for the Portland Storm’s World Football League home debut at the venue then known as Civic Stadium.
