Bring on those Expansion Teams

By: Bob Kellett | May 5th, 2009

Over the year the USL First Division has been a revolving door. Teams come and teams go. The league’s business model depends on expansion fees. Not exactly the best way to run a sports league, but the arrival of new teams has not been all bad, especially for the Portland Timbers. The Timbers play the new kids Cleveland City Stars (not technically an expansion team since they were in the Second Division last year) on Saturday. Cleveland has dropped their first three games in fine expansion-like fashion, yielding nine goals and scoring just one. If history holds true, the Timbers will do well this season against Cleveland and the other new team, Austin. Check out how Portland has done against new expansion teams over the years.

2002: v. Calgary, 4-0-0, 9GF, 4GA

2004: v. Edmonton, 4-0-0, 20GF, 1GA
v. Puerto Rico, 1-0-0, 5GF, 0GA

2006: v. Miami, 0-2-0, 2GF, 4GA

2007: v. California, 5-0-0, 11GF, 1GA
v. Carolina, 1-0-1, 1GF, 0GA

Total: 15-2-1, 48GF, 10GA

Your early season preview
A nice overview of this year’s club.

Wonder if he comes to USL Timbers games
Not sure if he would fit into the celebrity fan category, but at least Galen Rupp is a fan.

Helping his cause
Chris Seitz is back in Salt Lake and finds himself starting.

Category: Timbers Team News

Tags: Timbers Team News

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• harmsway01 |  May 5th, 2009 at 9:35 am

  
  
  

  After looking at the schedule, I noticed that our final 4 games are against Cleveland and Austin. Hope the expansion success continues!

  Posted from United States

  

• Lucas |  May 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

  
  
  

  We actually went 5-0-0 vs California in 2007. I wish there were still a team in San Fran because that was a fantastic road trip.

  Surely better than a roadie to Cleveland would be, where I predict a 1-0 win on Saturday as follows:

  *McManus opens his account for the Timbers*
  *digs deep for game winner in the 70th minute*
  *looks for celebratory bottle of G2, doesn’t find it*
  *drinks from the Cuyahoga River instead*
  *contracts swine flu from river more polluted than the Willamette*
  *laughs it off*
  *visits Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame*
  *salutes statue of Bruce Springsteen*
  *returns to Portland as victor*
  *et cetera*

  Posted from United States

  

• Bob Kellett |  May 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

  
  
  

  You’re right. Correction made. My mind saw a draw against Carolina and read it as California.

  Posted from United States

  

• Don57 |  May 5th, 2009 at 3:11 pm

  
  
  

  15-2-1

  Posted from United States

  

• BoriQa |  May 5th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

  
  
  

  Too bad there were no expansion teams last year…

  Posted from United States

  

• Cap Ap |  May 6th, 2009 at 8:08 am

  
  
  

  When did PR turn into S-ttle Part II? They used to have class, hope some of their fans still do.

  Posted from United States

  

• Cap Ap |  May 6th, 2009 at 8:43 am

  
  
  

  Not that this is the place for such talk…thanks for the posts, Bob, always a pleasure.

  Also, I think we need to get that Rupp guy a TA scarf.

  Posted from United States

  

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