D.C. United 3 - 2 Timbers
Final
  for this game

Timbers test perfect home record against United

May 27, 2011 - 3:36 PM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - The Portland Timbers lost at Jeld-Wen Field on Wednesday, but coach John Spencer admitted afterward the "most important thing for us is to win the game this weekend."

Portland lost a friendly against Dutch side Ajax, 2-0, but Spencer admitted "I don't think we'll play ... anybody in Major League Soccer that has the quality of that team.

"I don't think we can punish ourselves. There is a gulf in difference, we know that," he added. "That's one of the biggest clubs in European soccer so it's a great experience for us as a young club."

Now, Spencer and the expansion Timbers (5-3-2) can focus on Sunday's MLS match against D.C. United (3-4-3) at Jeld-Wen Field, where they are unbeaten in five league games this season.

Even Ajax coach Frank de Boer admitted he could see how the atmosphere at Jeld could intimidate other teams.

"Great audience, great atmosphere, I can see how a lot of teams have problems when they have to play here," De Boer said. "The enthusiastic crowd can always be a very difficult thing for the opponent."

Spencer was not foolish enough to expect a result against Ajax, which just won the Dutch Eredivisie title a few weeks ago. With Ajax in championship form, it was "a good refresher for the players getting a chance to play against such a historic club," Spencer said.

Portland is the only team in MLS that is perfect at home (Sporting Kansas City has yet to play at home this year) and sits among a group of four teams on 17 points in the Western Conference, four points out of second.

D.C. United has improved since last season, when it ended with the worst mark in MLS, but has just one result in four road matches, losing the other three. United was off last week, and is unbeaten in its last three - all at home.

D.C. assistant Chad Ashton knows his side must defend set pieces well against the Timbers, who have scored nine of their 13 goals from set pieces this year. Otherwise, United may have trouble earning another result on the road.

"(Portland) is very good on set pieces," Ashton said. "It's no secret (set pieces) have been one of our weaknesses, so we're going to have to do a good job and hopefully do a better job on the offensive side of as well."






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