The Portland Timbers left Jeld-Wen Field with a 1-1 draw against the Swedish club AIK on Saturday in the last game of their preseason schedule. The team finished with a record of 3-2-2 and now look to the season opener, which is scheduled for this coming Sunday at home versus the New York Red Bulls.
Portland came out a little sluggish in the first half of the game against AIK, giving up a goal in the 28th minute. The Timbers held steady from there and kept the pressure on their opponents, eventually tying the game in the 75th minute on a goal from left back Michael Harrington that provided the final score. The game lacked the quality of regular-season play, but Portland got some valuable preparation for their weekend showdown with the Red Bulls.
Though Portland has struggled at times during the past few weeks, the preseason was less about winning games and more about learning the revamped style of play that new head coach Caleb Porter plans to establish on both offense and defense. After a handful of uneven performances, it is clear that there is still more work to be done. New York, who made it to the playoffs last season after a third-place finish in MLS’s Eastern Conference, will provide a difficult matchup for Portland right out of the gate.
The Timbers will be looking to rebound from a disappointing season last year in which they finished near the bottom of the Western Conference. With a few new faces on the roster, including Harrington, professional soccer returns to Portland with high hopes for a rabid fan base. The season opener is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN2 as a part of the network’s opening week coverage of the MLS season.