Portland soccer returns to the big time

It is the first of 34 regular-season matches, hardly a make-or-break occasion. There is every chance today’s match between the Portland Timbers and Colorado Rapids will have little significance in how their 2011 seasons unfold.

But in no way can today’s match be described as run of the mill.

For Timbers owner Merritt Paulson, general manager Gavin Wilkinson and head coach John Spencer, today’s debut of the Portland Timbers is the culmination of more than two years of planning. For fans — including several hundred Timbers supporters at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the Denver suburb of Commerce City — it is a moment awaited for nearly three decades.

Not since 1982 has Portland been represented in the top league of professional soccer. So, for passionate supporters of soccer and the Timbers, this is significant.

Owner and president — Merritt Paulson.

General manager — Gavin Wilkinson.

Head coach — John Spencer.

Assistant coaches — Trevor James, Amos McGee, Adam Smith (goalkeepers).

Forwards — Kenny Cooper, 26, 6-3 210, seventh pro season (Dallas, Texas); Bright Dike (Dee-Kay), 24, 6-1 220 (Edmond, Okla.) (injured); Eddie Johnson, 26, 5-11 185, 10th pro season (Chester, England); Jorge Perlaza, 26, 5-10 155, 11th pro season (Guapi, Colombia); Brian Umony, 22, 5-8, 155, fifth pro season (Kampala, Uganda).

Midfielders — Kalif Alhassan, 20, 5-10 160, fourth pro season (Accra, Ghana); Freddie Braun, 22, 5-10 160, rookie (Rochester Hills, Mich.); Jeremy Hall, 22, 5-11 165, third pro season (Tampa, Fla.); Jack Jewsbury, 29, 6-0 185, ninth pro season (Springfield, Mo.); Peter Lowry, 25, 5-11 165, fourth pro season (Fair Oaks, Calif.); James Marcelin, 24, 6-2 175, fourth pro season (St. Marc, Haiti); Adam Moffat, 24, 6-0 175, seventh pro season (Glasgow, Scotland); Darlington Nagbe, 20, 5-9, 165, rookie (Lakewood, Ohio); Ryan Pore, 27, 5-11 165, seventh pro season (Mansfield, Ohio); Sal Zizzo, 24, 5-10 165, fifth pro season (San Diego).

Defenders — Eric Brunner, 25, 6-4 170, fourth pro season (Dublin, Ohio); Mamadou “Futty” Danso, 27, 6-3 185, third pro season (Serekunda, The Gambia); Kevin Goldthwaite, 28, 6-1 180, seventh pro season (Sacramento); David Horst, 25, 6-4 210, fourth pro season (Pine Grove, Pa.); Steve Purdy, 26, 6-4 190, fourth pro season (Rockville, Md.); Rodney Wallace, 22, 5-10 160, third pro season (San Jose, Costa Rica).

Goalkeepers — Adin Brown, 32, 6-5 230, 12th pro season (Pleasant Hill, Calif.); Jake Gleeson, 20, 6-3 200, rookie (Wellington, New Zealand); Troy Perkins, 29, 6-1 190, ninth pro season (Worthington, Ohio).

Here is a peek at the team on First Kick, the MLS version of opening day:

Who are these guys?

The Timbers’ roster is perhaps the youngest Major League Soccer. In building their team, Spencer and Wilkinson have emphasized speed and have brought together young players with something to prove.

Among them are 14 Americans, along with players from England, Africa, Central America, and New Zealand.

Who will score the goals?

Forward Kenny Cooper, a former MLS all-star, is the highest profile player on the roster. At 26 and coming off an of injury-shortened season in Germany, he is looking to regain the form that produced 40 goals in 90 matches over four seasons with FC Dallas.

Alongside Cooper up front in the starting lineup is 26-year-old Colombian Jorge Perlaza, a forward who the Timbers hope will become a breakout player in his first MLS season.

Darlington Nagbe, the college player of the year last fall, could be special. A speedy attacker, Nagbe won’t play for several weeks as he recovers from a sports hernia, but the Timbers anticipate he will be a dynamic contributor as a midfielder or a forward.

Why should fans be optimistic?

“To be honest, I think it’s our work rate,” midfielder Peter Lowry said.

Spencer has stressed a blue-collar philosophy, repeating the mantra that everyone — including himself — is fighting daily for his job. With so many players out to prove they belong in MLS, the team will likely take on his bulldog personality.

“At the end of the day, being a blue-collar team can get you a long way in this league,” said Lowry, a four-year MLS vet with the Chicago Fire. “If you look at the teams that have been successful and won championships, that’s certainly been a trait that they’ve had.”

What’s gone right so far?

Getting Cooper and Nagbe was significant, as were trades that brought goalkeeper Troy Perkins and outside midfielder Sal Zizzo. The Timbers were unbeaten in eight preseason matches, with two wins and six ties highlighted by a 2-0 win over Seattle in the Cascadia Summit. The play of the defense was generally solid, with Steve Purdy impressing at left back.

What’s gone wrong so far?

Purdy’s performance eased any sting from the absence of Kerrea Gilbert. The Timbers signed the English left back Gilbert months ago, but this week gave up trying to roster him because of visa problems. A season-ending injury to promising forward Bright Dike. The inability — thus far — to sign another creative central midfielder has frustrated some fans.

How much are the players paid?

MLS has a salary cap of $2.675 million this season, and the league negotiates player contracts. While most players will earn between $42,000 and $100,000, designated players — for which each team has three slots — can earn significantly more. Los Angeles’ David Beckham, for example, was paid $6 million in 2010 according to MLS Players Union figures. Portland has not yet signed a DP, though Paulson has said it could soon happen.

How is the MLS champion determined?

The playoffs conclude with the MLS Cup championship match. This year 10 of the 18 teams will make the playoffs. Each team plays the other 17 teams twice in the regular season.

Why does Major League Soccer matter?

MLS had its first season with 10 teams in 1996. The league was formed with the intention of building momentum from the 1994 World Cup in the United States. With the addition of franchises in Portland and Vancouver, B.C., the league has 18 teams this season. While not on par with top leagues in Europe and South America, the league has gained respect and is credited with the improvement of the United States men’s national team.

What do the experts think?

Among the many websites that rank the league’s teams, MLSSoccer.com’s power rankings have Portland 13th among the 18 clubs. Steve Davis of Sports Illustrated has Portland 15th in his preseason MLS rankings.

Where to watch?

All Timbers matches are on TV. Today’s local broadcast is on FSN (Comcast channel 34), with a national telecast on the Fox Soccer Channel.

Today, the Timbers official viewing party will be at Kell’s Irish Pub in downtown Portland.