CD Olimpia vs. Portland Timbers
2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League
October 21 | 7 pm PT | Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino
TV: Fox Soccer Plus
The Portland Timbers are in good shape in their goal to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League heading into their final Group 5 game Tuesday evening against Honduran side CD Olimpia in Tegucigalpa. The Timbers have won their first three games in CCL play, including a 4-2 win over Olimpia on Sept. 16 in Portland, meaning a win would send them through to the knockout stages. But the Timbers can also advance with a draw or even a one-goal loss given Olimpia doesn’t make up the two-goal head-to-head differential or away goals tiebreaker.
BROADCAST INFO: The match will be broadcast on FOX Soccer Plus at 7pm PT. FOX Soccer Plus is available on DirecTV in high definition and on Dish Network, but only in standard definition. Fox Soccer Plus is not available in Portland on Comcast.
Fox Soccer Plus
DirecTV: 621-1 (HD)
DirecTV: 621 (SD)
Dish: 407 (SD)
Comcast: not available
A number of Timbers Pub Partners are planning on showing the Oct. 21 match for the Portland away match against CD Olimpia:
The Upper Deck Sports Pub (Corvallis)
Marathon
Bazi Bierbrasserie
Mad Greek Deli
Kells
The Station
Paddy’s
HONDURAS AWAY: The atmosphere at Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino is likely to be lively, but Timbers supporters will have a small but passionate presence in the stands courtesy of Timbers fan and Oregon native Dan Upp, who works in the US Embassy in Honduras and has been busy recruiting support for the game ever since the CCL draw was released.
They’ll have to cheer loud, however, as Olimpia has opened up free admission in sections for the game to grow their numbers.
FIELD TRIP: The way Timbers coach Caleb Porter sees it, his team started the season together, and they’ll finish it together. Rather than splitting the group up – as they did for their away match against Alpha in Guyana to leave behind players to prepare strictly for their upcoming league match - Porter traveled nearly his entire roster.
“It gives us good training numbers, and also from a chemistry standpoint everybody is here,” Porter told MLSsoccer.com in a phone conversation Monday from Honduras. “Whether they’re playing or on the bench or not dressing at all, they’re here and invested in playing a part.”
OLIMPIA CONFIDENT: The Honduran champions may face a daunting task to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010-11, but head coach Hector Vargas said he likes his team’s chances. After their 4-2 loss in Portland, Vargas told the media after the game that the Timbers will face a hostile crowd and difficult weather conditions.
“Portland played well here, but we do know one thing that in Honduras the weather will be very different,” Vargas said. “And that’s something I find interesting, the possibility that it will be a very different kind of match.”
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OLIMPIA PLAYER TO WATCH:
ROMELL QUIOTO, OLIMPIA – The 23-year-old forward not only scored a goal in Olimpia’s 4-2 loss in Portland but is also coming off an impressive 45-minute shift in the second half in Honduras’ 1-1 draw Oct. 14 against the US national team.
