Green and Gold Charity Match: When the Only Rule is to Have Fun

JUNE 26, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: GREEN IS GOLD CHARITY MATCH (Photo by Diego G Diaz).

The Portland Timbers and Thorns FC came together on Wednesday night in front of over 10,000 fans at Providence Park for a mixed-teams charity match – Green is Gold – to support environmental nonprofits The Nature Conservancy and Keep Oregon Green. 

Head coaches Phil Neville (Timbers) and Rob Gale (Thorns FC ) faced each other for team gold and team green with Timbers midfielder Diego Chara and Thorns FC defender Meaghan Nally Co-Captaining  Team Green, while Timbers defender Eric Miller and Thorns FC defender Gabby Provenzano Co-Captained Team Gold. The match featured a star come back from club legends and 2015  MLS Champions Jack Jewsbury, and Diego Valeri.

Coed teams, extra players, yellow cards, penalties with two goal keepers, coaches jumping in, players in suit pieces,  hand carries that looked out of a GAA or Australian Rules football, and loads of laughs, and on top of it all, the 60-minute, full field match that rendered 12 goals ending in a 6-6 draw.

The delighted fans participated in the fun teasing players, and celebrating every goal.

Evander opened the score sheet with and outside the box stunner in minute 15, then Dairon Asprilla, Rodriguez, Asprilla and Evander again, then Callum Lugton, Ana Dias, Cally Togiagi, Janine Becky, Shelby Hogan, Santiago Moreno… . Specially to mention Shelby Hogan’s fabulous foot work, playing outfield in full goal keeper garb scoring in a one on one with the keeper worth any top league high paying forward. 

At the end, a night to remember, great fun and proceeds going to a great cause.