Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Finn Surman (Portland Timbers | USA)

463 replies · 48,307 views
7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
Both big Kiwi CBs start!

Surman again captains the Timbers. Boxy I think is also Minny's captain.
If so that must be a first for Kiwi football. Something to mention to the Australian football press this coming week.




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7 months ago
49 mins in and still no way around both Kiwi CBs at 0-0.

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7 months ago
Finishes a goal a piece! 
That’s a big game for Kiwi fans now. 


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7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
Entertaining highlights. Both keepers with top games.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-minnesota-united-vs-portland-timbers-august-30-2025

Boxy & Finn S to now share a long plane journey to Canberra?
Little awkward given the younger man is basically looking to take the older man's starting RCB spot for the AWs!

Perhaps Boxall will drop a sneaky laxative into Surman's in flight lasagne or something!
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7 months ago
coochiee
Pretty cool

 Hang it in the Louvre!
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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7 months ago
Or at least, the pool room!

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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6 months ago
Surman starts
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6 months ago
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6 months ago · edited 6 months ago · History
Surman starts, but no longer captain.

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6 months ago
coochiee
Surman starts, but no longer captain.


To be fair I was worried when I saw that. His first year in the MLS and he’s being asked to be captain too. Hmmm. Reminded me a little of when Oli Sail was given the captaincy here and his game has never really recovered to be as strong as it was prior to that.


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6 months ago
The Kiwi birthday boy starts at BC Place in Vancouver, but not as captain.

This will be a tough game.
Inconsistent Timbers (42 pts) are 7th in the West. Whitecaps (55 pts) are 2nd but they have 2 games in hand on San Diego (1st, 57 pts).

Boxy's Minnesota 3rd with 54 pts.

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6 months ago · edited 6 months ago · History
And the Timbers almost nab a win. They were up 1-0 until the 88th min.
Finishes 1-1.

Full game Surman. Young Giuseppe Bovalina (ex Adelaide) 80 mins for Vancouver.

Portland (7th) consolidate a playoff spot (top 9 teams), being 7 pts ahead of Houston in 10th, with 3 rounds left in the regular season. Ideally want to be 7th or better, as spots 8th & 9th play a one off wildcard match.

Result also helps Boxy's Minny chances of overtaking Vancouver.

Highlights
https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2025/matches/vanvspor-09-24-2025/
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6 months ago · edited 6 months ago · History
Surman full game and a yellow in a 2-2 draw.
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6 months ago
Surman starts, and looks like he is captain again?
Big game this one
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5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Portland (7th in the West) host San Diego (2nd). 
Timbers (41 pts, -3 GD) will want at least a draw, so Dallas (8th, 41 pts, -4 GD) don't overtake them.

8th & 9th have an extra wildcard playoff game, before the MLS QF playoffs proper. Portland will want to avoid the wildcard match.


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5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
No Surman - 'lower body injury'

Portland trail 0-1 approaching HT.
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5 months ago
You would have to assume that’s the Crown Jewels 

Auckland will rise once more

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5 months ago
Portland now getting a hiding being down 0-4 mid 2nd half.

Even worse Dallas are leading in Vancouver 2-1 (Whitecaps down to 10 men) so at this rate, Timbers will go down to 8th, and have to play the 8th v 9th wild card match.
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5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Unfortunately those above scorelines stay the same, and Dallas (finish 7th) leaps over the Timbers in the Western Conference standings.

So Portland (8th) now have the extra midweek workload of hosting Real Salt Lake (9th) in the one off wildcard game, to find the 8th quarterfinalist in the West.

Even if Portland win that game, they would then face today's opponents San Diego (1st in the West) in the 3 game QF playoffs. After today's 4-0 drubbing in Oregon, you wouldn't give the Timbers much of a chance of upsetting SD.
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5 months ago
I see he was named as the 2025 supporters player of the year the other night
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5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
If the Timbers lose their wild card game tomorrow against Real Salt Lake, will it be his last match for Portland?

Boxall was 7th.

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5 months ago
Kinda hope he sticks around Portland a couple more seasons. That would help get him to the stage where that come the next move, he will be signed as a starter rather than a promising prospect.
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5 months ago · edited 5 months ago · History
Cant agree think another two seasons is two much. All going well he stays till the World Cup and he has a good one then the offers should come in. Neville hold him in high regard so im sure he will be advising him whats best.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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5 months ago
MLS has been okay for Boxy right? If he’s got a place where they like him, well…? 

How long did Nelsen take to make the jump? 


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5 months ago
If he goes, conversations around expected playing time will be part of the negotiations.

If he goes, he's happy with the plans and should be trusted.

He knows better than any of us what is good for his career.
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5 months ago
Fans online don't seem too happy with Phil Neville atm (but when are fans online ever happy?) so maybe there's an outside chance of a new manager coming in for next season?
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