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Timbers debut at home in exhibition event

Portland hosting four-team invitational

The Columbian
Published: February 22, 2015, 12:00am

PORTLAND — The Portland Timbers make their 2015 Providence Park debut on Sunday when they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at 5 p.m.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter has said he plans to play a first-team lineup for this first of three home preseason matches over the next seven days.

But the focus is not on winning. It’s on preparing for the March 7 regular-season opener.

“It’s not going to be perfect. But the goal is to be as cohesive as we can be on March 7,” Porter said.

The match is part of the Simple Invitational, the new name for the Timbers preseason tournament. The Chicago Fire take on Staebek from Norway at 3 p.m. to open the tournament. Tickets are available and a webcast will be available at timbers.com.

This figures to be the first hat for Liam Ridgewell, who takes the field alongside Nat Borchers in central defense. Ridgewell rejoined the club this week after playing six matches with Wigan Athletic in England’s Championship, its second division.

“Having that extra six games has helped him,” Porter said, explaining that prior to joining the Timbers last season Ridgewell had spent more time in recent years at left back than at center back.

The Timbers had one win and two draws in three preseason matches while in Tucson, Ariz., for 15 days.

The tournament continues on Wednesday when the Timbers take on the Fire and on Saturday when they face Staebek. Staebek is coached by former U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley.

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