Union foe Portland not playing like an expansion team

Even though the Union had a short week after beating San Jose on Saturday, the Portland Timbers had an even shorter one.

That is because the Timbers played host to the Earthquakes in a U.S. Open Cup game on Tuesday, losing a 1-0 decision. Despite being an expansion team, Portland has gotten off to a 3-3-1 start in Major League Soccer games. The Timbers used 10 different starters in the Open Cup, and coach John Spencer said that the lineup that beat talented Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on April 30 will be the one the Union sees.

That includes Kenny Cooper, the Timbers' leading scorer. The 6-foot-4 Cooper has three goals and one assist after suffering through two injury-plagued seasons competing for 1860 Munich in Germany's second-tier league.

"He is a tremendous physical specimen, good with his feet and in the air, and leads the front line for us," Spencer said in a phone interview. "For a couple of seasons he was injured, and now he is getting regular minutes and is stronger every game and a lot more confident."

Troy Perkins, who missed the beginning of the season with a knee injury, will be in goal for the Timbers.

The Timbers, like the Union a year ago, have been performing in front of enthusiastic crowds in their first MLS season. Spencer said that he doesn't want his team to have an expansion-team mentality, and he thinks that earning a playoff berth is a realistic goal.

"I said from day one that we don't want to use expansion as an excuse if we don't play well," Spencer said.

The Timbers coach certainly doesn't expect team manager Peter Nowak and the Union to treat them like an expansion team.

"I have known Peter a number of years, and his teams are always well-prepared," Spencer said. "They have that Nowak-type mentality. They come at you, are very physical and fit, and never give up."