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Timbers make preseason home debut on Sunday

Left back position in spotlight during Simple Invitational

By Paul Danzer, Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published: February 19, 2016, 3:31pm

BEAVERTON — When the Portland Timbers take the field at Providence Park for the first time in 2016 on Sunday, the faces will mostly be familiar.

One exception will be at left back, where Jermaine Taylor is the likely starter for the Timbers preseason match against Minnesota United on the first day of the Simple Invitational preseason tournament. When Portland acquired the Jamaican international in the offseason, Taylor’s ability to play any defensive position was cited as the reason.

“He’s a good player, and he’s had a real good preseason,” coach Caleb Porter said following Thursday’s practice. “We lean towards him being in the lineup because of his experience and because of how well he’s performed in the preseason.”

Chris Klute, the man Portland acquired from Columbus to replace departed Jorge Villafana at left back, continues to rehabilitate from a meniscus procedure in the offseason. Klute has not yet been cleared for full training, and Porter called left back the one position that is unsettled heading into the last three preseason games.

One option for Porter is playing Liam Ridgewell at left back and Taylor at center back. The coach noted that both Ridgewell and Taylor have spent significant time at left back during their careers.

Ridgewell, who rejoined the team this week after playing in six games on loan with Brighton & Hove Albion in England’s Championship (second division), said he is fit and excited to play again in Providence Park. Ridgewell said his first choice is to play center back but that he is comfortable at left back if needed.

Porter hinted that Taylor will likely get the call on the left side of the defense because the coach is reluctant to break up Ridgewell’s partnership with Nat Borchers in the middle.

Zarek Valentin and Andy Thoma played left back during the Timbers preseason games in Tucson, and one of them figures to be in the lineup for Wednesday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Porter said he will use a different lineup on Wednesday, while putting his regular starting 11 on the field this Sunday as well as for next Saturday’s final preseason match against Chicago.

Porter said his goal for Sunday’s match will be to get close to 90 minutes for most of his starters. Ridgewell, he said, might be the exception.

The Timbers open their sixth season in Major League Soccer on March 6 at home against Columbus. Single-game tickets for the first half of the regular-season home schedule go on sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

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Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter