PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers will begin play in Group 5 of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League tournament on the road against Guyanese side Alpha United FC on Tuesday, Aug. 19, it was announced today as CONCACAF unveiled the competition’s full group-stage schedule.
Following a tournament-opening road match, Portland will play host to home games against Honduran side Club Deportivo Olimpia on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and Alpha United FC on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Providence Park. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
The match against CD Olimpia is included as Exhibition C for Timbers season-ticket holders.
Tickets for Portland’s home match against CD Olimpia on Sept. 16 are on sale online at www.timbers.com and at the Providence Park box office. In addition, ticket information for the Sept. 23 match against Alpha United FC will be announced at a later date.
Portland concludes play in Group 5 with a trip to face CD Olimpia on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The 2014-15 edition of the competition marks Portland’s first-ever berth in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. Portland qualified for the tournament by virtue of finishing with the best overall record from the conference opposite the MLS Supporters’ Shield winner in 2013. Along with Portland, defending MLS Cup-champion Sporting Kansas City, 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-champion D.C. United and 2013 MLS Supporters’ Shield-winner New York Red Bulls represent the four U.S.-based MLS clubs in the competition. A fifth MLS club, the Montreal Impact, gained entry as the winner of the 2014 Canadian Championship.
The Timbers will play both CD Olimpia and Alpha United FC at home and away in a round-robin format and the top club from each of the eight three-team groups advances to the knockout round. The quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds are slated for early next year.
Founded in 1962 as the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League tournament adopted its current format in 2008 and crowns the continental club champion among a field of 24 teams representing CONCACAF member associations. The 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League tournament marks the 50th overall edition of the annual international club competition with the winner earning a berth in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.
2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League Group 5 Schedule
<strong><u>Date</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Opponent</u></strong> |
<strong><u>Kickoff (Pacific)</u></strong> |
<p>Tuesday, Aug. 19</p> |
<p>at Alpha United FC</p> |
<p>5 p.m.</p> |
<strong>Tuesday, Sept. 16</strong> |
<strong>CD OLIMPIA</strong> |
<strong>7 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>Tuesday, Sept. 23</strong> |
<strong>ALPHA UNITED FC</strong> |
<strong>7 p.m.</strong> |
<p>Tuesday, Oct. 21</p> |
<p>at CD Olimpia</p> |
<p>7 p.m.</p> |
