PORTLAND, Ore.— The Portland Timbers today announced details for their U.S. Open Cup play-in game against Chivas USA. The Timbers will play host to Chivas USA on Tuesday, March 29, at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets for the match are general admission and will be available for purchase through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phoning (800) 745-3000. Timbers season ticket holders will be able to purchase tickets for $15 during an exclusive pre-sale period from Wednesday at 10 a.m. through Friday at 5 p.m.; purchasing information will be emailed to season ticket holders. Tickets then go on sale to the general public Saturday at 10 a.m. for $20.
The Timbers were awarded the opportunity to host their first U.S. Open Cup play-in match through a coin toss conducted by Major League Soccer on Feb. 28. The winner of the Timbers-Chivas USA matchup will travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes in a second-round, play-in game in April. Should the Timbers advance to the third round of play-in games, they will play the victor of the second-round, play-in game between the Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids in May for the opportunity to compete in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper.
The Timbers, along with nine other clubs, are competing for the two remaining spots in MLS’s eight-team field in the U.S. Open Cup; six MLS teams have earned automatic berths by way of their overall regular-season finishes in 2010.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s club national championship, enters its 98th edition in 2011. Founded in 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
