from oregonlive.com
With a big game in two days, the Portland Timbers didn’t get caught overlooking their opponent Sunday.
The Timbers put Wednesday’s game against the arch-rival Seattle Sounders on the back burner and remained focused on the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies long enough to win 1-0 in front of 8,892 at PGE Park.
The Timbers (5-5-4, 19 points) face Major League Soccer’s Sounders in a U.S. Open Cup game Wednesday. But the Timbers wanted to win an important league game against the Rowdies and maintain the momentum from winning two consecutive games.
Portland coach Gavin Wilkinson used his typical bluntness when he addressed his players about not looking ahead to Seattle.
“The simple truth? Do well (Sunday) and you’ll have a chance of starting against Seattle,” Wilkinson said. “Do poorly and you’ll miss out one of the most exciting games you’ll ever play in.”
