Back in the starting lineup, as Timbers host Vancouver in the MLS.
Back in the starting lineup, as Timbers host Vancouver in the MLS.
Pretty sick volley scored by the Vancouver player, too
Pretty sick volley scored by the Vancouver player, too
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=468022363779773
First 3 goals of the game pretty spectacular to be honest. Looks a very cool stadium the redone Providence Park.
Tuiloma involved in a tight offside call, to deny Whitecap's Peruvian Reyna when the game was still in the balance.
Portland up to 8th, and 2 points off the playoffs with 2 games in hand.
Portland host Chicago Fire in MLS, and are 2-0 up at HT.
Tuiloma starts on the bench, but is subbed on at 35 mins for his Francophile mate Mabiala, with Timbers already up by 2.
Portland host Chicago Fire in MLS, and are 2-0 up at HT.
Tuiloma starts on the bench, but is subbed on at 35 mins for his Francophile mate Mabiala, with Timbers already up by 2.
Finished 3-2 Timbers, though Chicago score their 2nd at 92 mins.
Actually good effort from the Fire who played last 60 odd mins with ten men.
Mabiala's injury might open the door for Tuiloma to get a run of games as a starter.
Portland up to 7th, and into the playoff spots. They have 2 games in hand on Dallas (1 pt behind), who are probably their main threat to missing the playoffs. Regular season finishes 7th October.
MLS final is on Nov 10th, and AWs play Ireland Nov 14th. So even if either Minnesota or Portland make the big dance, Boxall and Tuiloma should be available for the AWs, at least for the 2nd match in Lithuania (Nov 17th).
Portland host Chicago Fire in MLS, and are 2-0 up at HT.
Tuiloma starts on the bench, but is subbed on at 35 mins for his Francophile mate Mabiala, with Timbers already up by 2.
Finished 3-2 Timbers, though Chicago score their 2nd at 92 mins.
Actually good effort from the Fire who played last 60 odd mins with ten men.
Mabiala's injury might open the door for Tuiloma to get a run of games as a starter.
Portland up to 7th, and into the playoff spots. They have 2 games in hand on Dallas (1 pt behind), who are probably their main threat to missing the playoffs. Regular season finishes 7th October.
MLS final is on Nov 10th, and AWs play Ireland Nov 14th. So even if either Minnesota or Portland make the big dance, Boxall and Tuiloma should be available for the AWs, at least for the 2nd match in Lithuania (Nov 17th).
9 out of their last 10 to be played at home too, so a pretty good way to end the regular season. They've paced themselves well to be there or thereabouts up until now and should seriously be looking at moving further up the Western Conference with the travel friendly run in they have. Currently only 4 points off of Boxall's 2nd placed Minnesota, with a game in hand too.
Next up, last seasons champions Atlanta and some bloke by the name of Josef Martinez, who's only gone and knocked in a handy 25 goals across all competitions so far this season, including 10 in his past 7 MLS appearances. The guy is deadly!
In a replay of last year’s MLS Final (but this time in Portland), is Timbers vs Atlanta.
Tuiloma starting. Atlanta (2nd in the Eastern Conference) already up 1-0 after 15 mins.
Finished 2-0 to Frank de Boer coached Atlanta. They go top in the East.
Prolific Martinez with Atlanta’s 2nd. A quality assist from Gressel, that split Tuiloma and his CB partner. Looks like Portland had plenty of chances to score.
Full game for the Kiwi.
Timbers still sit in playoff spots, on GD.
90 mins a 1-2 home loss to Seattle, in Pacific North Coast derby.
Sounders overtake Minnesota into 2nd place in the Western Conference.
Portland stay in 7th, and the last playoff spot on GD.
Full game in a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
That stadium sure looks impressive full.
Timbers sit 8th in Western Conference (1 spot off the playoffs) but only 4 points, off San Jose in 2nd. Congested table.
Rather be a fan there than where Doyle's playing at the moment!
Good on them. Fudge fascists.
a.haak
Full game in 2-1 win over Sporting KC.
Timbers left it late with goals at 83 and 94 mins after conceding at 65 mins.
Portland up to 6th in the Western Conference.
Full game but unfortunately an OG as DC United win 1-0 in Portland.
Timbers 6th so still in playoff spots
Full game in a 0-2 loss to NY Bulls.
Conceded 2nd a pen at 96 mins.
Tuiloma no 25, features heavily in highlights. Saves off the line early on (when he and his team mates appeared to be really struggling with pace of NY forwards), and then has a great chance to score late.
Wheels fallen off Timbers season somewhat. Last 6 games (all at home) and have lost 4.
They are now 8th, and out of the playoffs by 1 pt. Huge game against Minnesota in Portland next Monday.
Tuiloma back in starting lineup as Timbers host New England.
Big game for Portland, one spot out of the playoffs on GD.
Tuiloma back in starting lineup as Timbers host New England.
Big game for Portland, one spot out of the playoffs on GD.
Finishes 2-2. Timbers blow a big chance to strengthen their playoff chances, conceding 2nd goal at 97 mins (PG). Tuiloma's CB partner Mabiala with a shirt tug in the box. They were up by 2-0 until 86 mins, so a real choke.
They still sneak into 6th spot on GD. San Jose are currently behind in their game, so Timbers will be hoping they lose.
Fully game for Billy T.
Starts as Timbers (6th in the West & 45 points) travel to Sporting KC, as the MLS Western Conference playoff race looks like going down to the wire, with two rounds left.
Portland leave it late (85 mins) to rescue a hugely valuable point with a 2-2 draw.
Plenty of drama. Both teams had players (Latinos I'll add with straight reds) sent off in the first half.
Sporting KC had another sent off at 84 mins, leading to late pen for Timbers.
Full game for Tuiloma.
Huge match in Portland in next week, as last regular season game.
Timbers in 6th (46 pts) host San Jose in 8th (44 pts). Top 7 sides make playoffs.
Dallas in 7th (45 pts) host Sporting KC, who are out of the playoff mix, and have nothing to play for. So Portland probably need to avoid losing to San Jose. Nervous week for Billy T.
Timbers playoff spot is confirmed in winner takes all 3-1 win over San Jose.
Portland finish 6th and Earthquakes miss out (8th).
Full game for Tuiloma.Will be hoping his team go on a post season run like last year, all the way to the final.
Timbers in white.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
From this week's Flying Kiwis
Just Billy T chatting about his French Connections with fellow centreback Larrys Mabiala.
Also here’s the dude chatting after last week’s 3-1 win over San Jose which booked Portland’s playoff spot. They’re away to Real Salt Lake on Sunday, one of two Flying Kiwis x MLS Playoff games in 2019. Michael Boxall’s Minnesota United being the other one of course, they host LA Galaxy and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The two are on other sides of the bracket as well so they won’t meet in the next round even if they both win – their collision course is for the Western Conference Final a week later. All ties are single-game elimination matches too, no second legs or away goals.
Tuiloma starts as the Timbers travel to Real Salt Lake for MLS knockout playoff football.
Lining up as a CB with his Francophile mate Mabiala.
Winner plays Seattle (knocked out Dallas) in Seattle on Thursday, in one Conference SF.
In other the semi LAFC, will host winner of Boxall's Minnesota and LA Galaxy (they play tomorrow).
Sadly season finishes for the Timbers and Tuiloma with a 2-1 loss in Utah, in the wet.
RSL scores their 2nd late at 87 mins. Venezuelan Jefferson Savarino with the winner.
RSL took a 1-0 lead in 1st half, before Asprilla equalised for Portland at 47 mins.
Billy T with a full game.
Hopefully goes better for Boxall and Minnesota tomorrow.
Some ball watching by Mabiala & Tuiloma for RSL's first goal.
Then a full stretch Billy T unfortunately only succeeded to tipping the ball onto Savarino, for RSL's winning goal.
Still seems to have cemented himself at MLS level in 2019.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
"Still impressed with this one. Bill Tuiloma is stayin' put in Portland! 
Swish. What a strike.
There’s good reason for re-hashing that one too: Billy T’s signed a new contract. He’d already had his 2020 option picked up by the Timbers but they’ve just gone and trumped that with a multi-year extension that’ll keep him in Portland for the foreseeable future. Not sure what multi-year means specifically because there hasn’t been a number applied to it yet, presumably at least two years on top of next year? But regardless the 24 year old, who joined Portland back in 2017 and just had his best season yet, has thrived under the consistency offered at the club following an erratic time in France and this is clearly a good move for him.
Portland have also retained fellow CBs Larrys Mabiala and Julio Cascante, while signing Croatian defender Dario Zuparic to add to the crew. So a full-time starting gig probably won’t be a given, though Tuiloma’s already proved himself a versatile bench option for the Timbers in the past. Plus he’s still relatively young in his career, especially as a central defender, which means plenty more room to improve. His kiwi GM sure reckons so, as does his coach...
Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson: “Bill is an ascending young player who has a very bright future. He has played his way into becoming a fixture along the back line and we are delighted to secure his services for years to come.”
Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese: “We feel very excited that Bill will continue as part of the Portland Timbers family. He is a defender with a lot of quality who can be versatile. He has worked hard to be an important player and still has the potential to grow.”
Playmaker Diego Valeri has also been re-signed, as has goalie Steve Clark. There’s a definite plan to prioritise continuity despite an inconsistent 2019 campaign, hoping that better luck with fitness and a couple key additions can get them back to the level that they were at in 2018 when they made the 2018 MLS final. All good trends for Bill Tuiloma.
Bill Tuiloma continues to ingrain himself into the Portland family with his new multi-year contract.
READ | 
Bill Tuiloma continues to ingrain himself into the Portland family with his new multi-year contract.
READ | http://ow.ly/xUw850xECI1 | #RCTID
Timbers.com: “With Mabiala and Cascante slated to return for the 2020 season, and Croatian Dario Zuparic added to the squad this offseason, that time on the field is not assured, though nor is Tuiloma’s path confined to that central defender role. The Timbers coaching staff remains intrigued by what Tuiloma can contribute in midfield, where his history as a ball-winner and his skill with long passes give Savarese & Co. a robust, regista option. Likewise, with the backup spot at right back currently unaccounted for on the depth chart, he and Marco Farfan could yet see minutes spelling the team’s first choice, Jorge Moreira.”
Stumptown Footy: “Fans generally agree that one of the more steady center back pairings last season was Bill Tuiloma alongside Larrys Mabiala. It will be interesting now to see how the battle for starting spots and chemistry along the backline progresses this offseason. It’s uncertain whether Tuiloma and Mabiala will come out of that battle as the first-choice center back pairing, now that Dario Zuparic is in the fold and Julio Cascante is back from injury. One thing that can be certain though is that Ol’ Bill will be indeed part that battle, new contract in hand.”
Up Next: The draw’s just been released and Portland opens their 2020 season at home versus Michael Boxall and Minnesota United at 1.30pm on 2 March (NZT)
And lastly from Flying Kiwis. Bugger for Tuiloma (calf strain), but might open AWs door for Musa and/or Kyle Adams if available for the AWs games in March.
Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers) – Erm, not good news. Terrible news in fact. Tui was likely to be battling to earn a starting CB spot for the Timbers after his efforts in 2019 but that quest has been put on hold for a little while thanks to injury. Two months out with a muscle problem. He’ll most likely miss the All Whites games in March now too, guts. Still, of all the other fellas he’s the most established so it ain’t like he’ll be cast aside now. Tuiloma signed a multi-year extension with the club back in December.
Timbers beat new side Nashville 1-0 in Portland. No Tuiloma.
He didn’t play for Cameron Knowles Timbers II in the USL yesterday either.
So must still be injured.
Out of 8 Kiwis signed to MLS clubs, only Boxall saw action over the weekend!
FYI - Nashville got 59,000 to their inaugural home game verus Atlanta last week! MLS going from strength to strength.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
Good 18 min chat with Tuiloma.
Up Next: The MLS players’ union has now signed off on the Orlando tournament proposal (as outlined in the last Flying Kiwis) so that’s getting closer and closer to happening
On the bench as Portland kick off against LA Galaxy in Orlando.
See that Portland recruited a couple of experienced CBs (Croatia & USL/ex MLS) in the off season, so Tuiloma may have a battle on his hands to make the starting lineup.
Subbed on at 78 mins, after Timbers Croatian CB got sent off.
Portland were up 2-0 then, and held on for a 2-1 win.
Galaxy’s ‘Little Pea’ Hernandez had a first half pen saved.
Full game in a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.
No Kyle Adams for Houston.
In highlights Billy T luckily gets away with an early mistake, and milks a red card late on as Houston go down to 10 men.
From highlights, a mixed game. Losing his man for LAFC's 2nd goal. But effectively an assist for Timber's 2nd.
On the bench as Portland play Cincinnati in Orlando.
Another pen shootout, this time after a 1-1 stalemate.
Timbers win shootout 4-2. Billy T an unused sub.
Portland to face New York City in their QF.
Reid's SKC also through to the quarters. Opponents Philli Union.
On the bench as Portland play New York City in their quarter final.
Winner to play Phili Union in the other semi final.