Quotes: Portland Timbers vs. Club América
Portland Timbers Quotes
Head Coach John Spencer
On the overall result:
"I thought we played very well tonight, I was really proud of the guys. I thought we played some great football. At times, our final ball into the box let us down, but we created some opportunities."
On a few individual performances:
"I thought Kevin Goldthwaite played really well tonight. I thought he led the team by example. I felt Rodrigo (Lopez), James (Marcelin) and Freddie (Braun) — in the first half once they got a feel for the game — were keeping the ball and passing it well. I thought Sal Zizzo, at times, looked electrifying. As I say, really some good individual performances."
On the return of Bright Dike to the lineup since rupturing his Achilles tendon in preseason:
"I think it was good just to get him on the field. I think it gave everybody a lift because we were so disappointed when we lost him at the start of the year. Now, to see him training, he's looking strong, he's looking fit and now we just need to try and find a way to get him into a game and keep him healthy."
On the team facing a vocal pro-Club America crowd:
"The difference in performance, confidence-wise, from the Ajax game to tonight was night and day, really. Young guys getting an opportunity to play the biggest club in Mexico, I thought it was a great experience for everybody."
Club América Quotes:
Head Coach Carlos Reinoso (through a Spanish translator)
On the overall result:
"It was a good game. We played the first match of our preseason lineup and it was good overall. In the first half, we moved the ball really well and I was pleased. In the second half, the younger guys got to play a little bit."
On the massive support Club America received during Thursday's match:
"It's extraordinary. It was beautiful to watch the fan base of this team and it was very impressive to see how many people turned out to watch this game."
On JELD-WEN Field and the atmosphere:
"It's a beautiful stadium, a great fan base and a wonderful team."
On the play of his goalkeepers:
"(Armando Navarrete) was very calm. He's been on the first division for a lot of years and our 19-year-old (Hugo Gonzalez) is also going to be a great goalkeeper.”
Notes:
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The Timbers’ Starting XI against Club América featured two trialists on the backline – central defender Aleksandar Ignjatovic and right full back John Thompson.
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Five months removed from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon suffered in preseason, Dike made his 2011 season debut in the exhibition against Club América, coming on as a second-half sub.
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Club América was the Timbers’ second exhibition opponent of the 2011 season. Earlier in the season, the Timbers squared off against notable Dutch side AFC Ajax at JELD-WEN Field. Portland plays two other exhibitions later this month, facing English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, July 20, and then successful Argentine side Club Athletico Independiente on Tuesday, July 26.
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The Timbers are 1-3-0 in non-league games in 2011, including U.S. Open Cup qualifiers.
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Thursday’s exhibition match marked the Timbers’ first match in 2011 in which a player was not called offside. Portland ranks second in MLS with 63 offside calls.
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Five players from Club América’s travel roster – defenders Jorge Reyes, George Corral and Erik Pimentel, goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez and forward Raul Jimenez – played previously in Portland against the second-division Timbers in an exhibition match in 2009.
- One of the most successful clubs in Mexico, Club América has won 33 total championships since its founding in 1916. The club boasts 14 league championships, is a five-time winner of the CONCACAF Champions League and competed in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. The club recently competed in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, reaching the round of 16.
