The start of the 2011 season couldn't be much more different than 2014 for the Portland Timbers. Back then, in their first ever season in MLS, they were widely expected to be the lesser of that year's two expansion sides, but despite a truly awful road record, they utilized John Spencer's bruising style to great effect at home, confounding everybody en route to a 5-match home winning streak to christen the newly renovated bandbox known as Jeld-Wen Field. Back in the present, the defending Western Conference regular season champs were expected to ride second-year coach Caleb Porter's slick possession game to even greater heights, but they've started the year winless in 8 matches, good for last place - in all of MLS. Even the stadium is different, with bigger field dimensions at the since renamed Providence Park.
Some things are the same, I suppose. The Timbers Army still rocks the place. Futty Dunso (somehow) is still starting for the Timbers, and there's still the turf surface. Here's hoping United's 2014 visit goes as well as that first one in 2011, too. Goals from Perry Kitchen (first career tally), Chris Pontius (penalty) and Josh Wolff were enough to see off the hosts 3-2.
Take to the comments to share your favorite memories of this fixture.