It could not have started better: Eryk Williamson, in his first match back after a second ACL surgery, opens 2024 for the Portland Timbers with a 9th-minute goal against Colorado, in front of the Timbers Army. Then, looking toward them as he walks toward the center circle, he kisses the badge that brings us together.
We want to sit in this a bit, so this Match Day* post takes Green Is the Color to every season-opening match, from 1975-2024, to revisit the goals that got us going.
1975:
No goals. Timbers lose at home, 0-1 to Seattle.
1976:
Tony Betts becomes the first Timber to score an opening-day goal. Portland wins away at Vancouver. GK Jim Cumbes, who, like current Timbers head coach Phill Neville, also excelled at cricket, saves 4 PKs.
1977:
Stewart Scullion away to Vancouver. Timbers win 1-0.
1978:
No goals as Portland loses 0-1 at California Surf.
1979:
Brian Gant gets things going (and ends with a brace) in a 4-3 win at San Jose.
1980:
No goals in a 0-1 road loss to the LA Aztecs.
1981:
Stuart Lee in a 2-0 road win at California Surf.
1982:
John Bain in the Kingdome in a 1-0 win over Seattle.
1985:
FC Portland's Tim Newton in a 2-3 road loss to Victoria Riptides.
1986:
Mark Miller in a 1-1 draw with Hollywood Kickers.
1987:
Scott Benedetti in a 2-1 win over Seattle Storm.
1988:
Souk Ngonethong in a 3-2 win in California.
1989:
Art Dixon brings the Portland Timbers name back. Rob Baarts scores in the opener, a 1-0 win over California Kickers. (Chinook run through Bonneville.)
1990:
The first full-professional version of the Timbers (and last until 2001) kicks off with a 3-2 loss at home to defending WSL champions San Diego Nomads at home. Rob Paterson gets the season’s first.
Two interesting notes to this one:
Former NASL Timber Gary Collier coaches the Nomads.
Indoor soccer’s all-time leading goal scorer Steve Zungul retires in San Diego just before the MISL playoffs, which means Peter Hattrup, who was set to join the Timbers, takes Zungul’s place in San Diego instead.
2001:
Brian Kelly, in his one match with Portland while on loan from the LA Galaxy, opens the (newest) return of the Timbers in a 1-2 loss at El Paso.
2002:
No goals in a 0-2 home loss to Seattle.
2003:
No goals in a 0-1 home loss to Seattle.
2004:
Alan Gordon needs only 21 seconds to get the A-League/Open Cup/Cascadia Cup going, in a 2-1 win at home against Seattle. This is also the first opening-match goal with 1844 SW Morrison Street operating under the name PGE Park (2000-2010).
2005:
A Toronto own goal in the 50th minute gets the season started. Timbers win 3-0 at home.
2006:
No goals in a 0-1 road loss to Vancouver.
2007:
Andrew Gregor’s strike 85 seconds into the 2007 season (and his second in the 86th minute) gives the Timbers a 3-1 win over the visiting Puerto Rico Islanders and lands Gregor on the Week 1 USL Team of the Week.
2008:
Portland Native Chris Brown’s first goal as a Timber in the 71st minute sends Timber Jim Serrill off with a win in his last game in his official capacity, as the Timbers beat Puerto Rico 1-0.
2009:
No goals in a 0-1 road loss to Vancouver.
2010:
Ryan Pore’s 85th-minute penalty kick secures full points in a 1-0 win over visiting Rochester Rhinos as the PGE Park and USL era will come to a close at season’s end.
2011:
First MLS match, first MLS goal: Kenny Cooper strikes in a 1-3 loss at Colorado.
2012:
Andrew Jean-Baptiste’s equalizer in the 54th minute sparks a comeback toward a 3-1 home win against Philadelphia Union at Jeld-Wen Field.
2013:
3-3 draw at home against New York Red Bulls, and the first comes from future Ring of Honor member Diego Valeri (please watch, over and over).
2014:
For the second year in a row, the season opener is at home (this time called Providence Park). For the second year in a row, it’s an Argentinian striking for the good team (this time Gastón Fernández). A 90+4-minute goal secures a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia.
2015:
No goals in a 0-0 home draw with Real Salt Lake.
2016:
Diego Valeri in a day match (remember those?) against guest Columbus. 2-1 Timbers.
2017:
Lawrence Olum starts off a 5-1 victory at home over new-to-MLS side Minnesota United FC.
2018:
Portland loses 2-1 on the road against LA Galaxy. It’s Sebastián Blanco for the Timbers pulling one back in the 66th minute.
2019:
It’s 2013 all over with a 3-3 opening-day draw and Diego Valeri getting the first. This one, however, happens with an orange ball. Plenty of goals and snow on the road in Colorado.
2020:
Diego Valeri hits from the spot at home in a 1-3 loss to Minnesota on March 1. Portland would host Nashville the next week and then nothing until the MLS Is Back Tournament.
2021:
No goals in a 0-0 “road” loss to the Whitecaps at CGI-Vancouver (Salt Lake) due to COVID-19 travel restrictions between the US and Canada (different than the NASL indoors 1980 situation).
2022:
Diaron Asprilla’s equalizer starts off the 2022 campaign in a 2-2 home draw against New England Revolution.
2023:
Juan Mosquera’s 6th-minute goal is enough for the 1-0 win at home over Sporting Kansas City, after a 48-hour snow delay. It’s the 600th MLS goal for the Timbers, and the win makes Giovanni Savarese the winningest coach in club history. (See: “No-Pity Land”)
2024:
Just enjoy:
This one opens the Phil Neville era. This one’s for Eryk. This one’s for the Timbers Army. This one’s for Benson Drapiza.
A 4-1 win at home to start 2024. This one’s for Us.
#RCTID