A Benefit for Bless Field: The Matches

Hopefully you are planning to join us on April 4 at the Hollywood Theatre at 7:00 for our kickoff benefit for Bless Field: Beating Seattle Never Gets Old. We'll be screening some historic Timbers highlights with commentary throughout the evening from the players who were there. You'll see highlights from these classic matches: August 12, 1975: playoff semifinal, Seattle at Portland The Timbers began their history in May, 1975, with a loss at home to the Sounders before something like 7,500 fans. But when the teams met again, in July, there were 27,000 Portlanders watching the Timbers get their revenge. A third match in Seattle went the Sounders’ way, setting up the two teams on a collision course for this playoff semi-final, played before a then-record NASL crowd of 31,000. One of the great matches in the history of this storied rivalry.

June 12, 1976: Cosmos at Portland Led by Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia, the 1976 Cosmos scored a lot of goals, and the Timbers weren’t nearly as successful in their second season as in their debut year. So this wasn’t much of a game from a sporting standpoint. But it’s amazing to watch some of the game’s greatest names compete on the same ground where today’s Timbers play.

April 17, 1982: Timbers at Chicago In what would be the Timbers’ last season of any sort for a full seven years, the team played a springtime match against defending the NASL champion Chicago Sting on the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field. It turned out to be a much more hotly contested encounter than it might have appeared it would be, with both teams showing the effects of a winter spent playing in NASL’s indoor league.

In an upcoming post, we'll feature the players from these historic matches who will be joining us.

Tickets are $12.00 in advance through Eventbrite, $15.00 at the door. Look forward to seeing you there!