PORTLAND, Ore. – Giovanni Savarese has been the head coach of the Portland Timbers for over four months, but until last weekend, the Venezuela-born New York-native had yet to get the full Portland soccer experience. Construction at Providence Park forced his team to spend the first month-plus of the MLS season on the road, and with preseason activities predominantly taking place in Arizona, Savarese’s first exposure to Portland’s soccer culture was being drawn out.
Last weekend, that four-month tease ended, with the Timbers not only hosting Minnesota United FC to open their home campaign but Thorns FC returning to Providence Park against the Orlando Pride.