On Saturday, the Portland Timbers will play at Saputo Stadium for the sixth time in the club's all-time history and second in MLS (1pm PT, ROOT SPORTS). Portland has had numerous succesful trips to Montreal and specifically Saputo with a record of 3-1-1 all time at the stadium.
The first ever match at the then newly opened soccer-specific stadium took place on May 30, 2008 when then-USL Portland became the first club to win a game at Saputo as they knocked off the Impact, 1-0. Among the players on the field that day were current Timbers assistant coach Cameron Knowles who was playing for Portland and Houston Dynamo General Manager Matt Jordan who was then-goalkeeper for Montreal.
On April 25, 2010, the Timbers traveled to Quebec to take on the Impact in front of a soldout crowd of 13,034. In a hard-fought match, Portland and Montreal battled to a 1-1 draw behind goals from Ryan Pore and Nevio Pizzolitto. Pore's goal came after a sensational individual effort that saw him split two defenders before finishing past a helpess Jordan. The goal was the fourth of the season for Pore in just three games and with it he became the first Timber in club history to score a goal in each of the club's first three games of the season.
Last season, Portland secured a victory against Montreal for the first time in MLS play. Diego Valeri's late strike gave the Timbers all three points in the 3-2 victory, while Maxi Urruti and Will Johnson also scored for the visitors.
