Thursday, June 26, 2008

TAMPA, FL – Portland and Carolina will meet for just the third time Friday night on Fox Soccer Channel at 8:00 pm ET when the RailHawks play host to the Timbers. Prior to the match, fans can catch Episode One of USL Breakaway at 4:00 pm ET.

The second-year RailHawks will be looking for their first-ever victory over the Timbers Friday night after playing to a scoreless draw in Portland and a 1-0 loss at home in their debut campaign last year. Bryan Jordan boasts the lone goal in the history between the two clubs.

Portland currently sits tied for third at 4-4-6, trailing second-place Charleston by three points and league leader Vancouver by five. Carolina, at 3-4-5, is third from bottom, but the compact nature of the table has the RailHawks only four points back of Portland.

Aside from a wild 3-3 draw at Rochester last week that saw the RailHawks play a man down since the third minute, Carolina has been scoreless in the four other matches of the last five (0-4-1) – all on the road. Friday’s contest will be their first at home in league play since May 28. They marked their return Tuesday with a 1-0 victory over USL-2 Real Maryland in the US Open Cup.

Portland will also be looking to find the win column for the first time in a while, having gone winless in their last four (2-0-2), dating back to May 30. The Timbers last played two weeks ago in a 2-2 draw at home against Atlanta in which two red cards and an own goal proved their undoing.

Next USL on FSC Match: The Puerto Rico Islanders visit the Miami FC Blues on Friday, July 4 at Tropical Park Stadium. The game is at 8:00 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel.

USL BREAKAWAY: Episode One

Episode One of the behind-the-scenes feature show USL Breakaway, which covers stories around United Soccer Leagues on and off the pitch, will air on Fox Soccer Channel Friday, June 27 at 4:00 pm ET. Fans can also see the show Saturday, June 28 at 5:00 pm ET.

Episode One of USL Breakaway will feature, in part, a look at the Super Y-League ODP players who visited the West Ham Academy as part of USL’s partnership with the EPL club, an interview with USL Executive Vice President and COO Tim Holt, and a look at the double duty role that Colin Clarke plays in Puerto Rico as head coach of the USL-1 Islanders and the national team. Also in the show will be a USL-2 fan feature, a look at the Chicago Fire PDL program and the Women’s Soccer Celebration in Colorado.