Timbers U-23s play host to USL PRO side Arizona United SC in U.S. Open Cup match Tuesday

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s play host to USL PRO side Arizona United SC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific). Tuesday’s match marks the third consecutive year the Timbers U-23s have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup tournament and the second straight time the team will face off against a club from USL PRO.

Tickets for Tuesday’s match are available at www.timbers.com or at the Providence Park box office.

As part of a busy opening week, the Timbers U-23s play host to Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 on Thursday to open the 2014 PDL campaign with a special Providence Health & Fitness Day match at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (Pacific).

Playing in their third straight U.S. Open Cup tournament, the Timbers U-23s look to advance to the third round for the first time in team history. After being eliminated from the knockout tournament in the first round in 2012, the Timbers U-23s advanced to the second round in 2013 before losing 1-0 in a hard-fought match against USL PRO side Charleston Battery at Providence Park. Tuesday’s match against Arizona United SC (3-2-1, 10pts in USL PRO) marks the second time the Timbers U-23s will play host to a professional club.

Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer and ranks among the oldest in the world. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual knockout tournament celebrates its 101st edition in 2014. The U.S. Open Cup champion gains entry to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament, as well as a cash prize. The Timbers U-23s qualified for the 2014 edition of the tournament by finishing in second place in the Western Conference Northwest Division standings in 2013.

The Timbers U-23s kick off their 2014 PDL regular-season schedule Thursday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23. Portland has only lost once in 11 matches against Vancouver, compiling a 7-1-3 record since 2009. Thursday’s match will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the two clubs.