Portland Thorns And Timbers Plan Charity Match For Ukrainian Refugees

PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Thorns and Timbers will come together to benefit Ukrainian refugees, the teams announced Wednesday morning. The teams will mix players and play a charity match on April 27.

The match will be free, with donations encouraged, according to the teams. The Portland Timbers Football Club, which owns both teams, will match donations up to $100,000.

All the money will go to UNICEF to help its programs aiding children and families affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Soccer is a universal and undying sport," Thorns forward Christine Sinclair said. "This is something that we've wanted to do as a club for years, and I couldn't think of a better reason. A match like this is one of its kind, and while this game will be entertaining no doubt, the focus is to provide relief for Ukraine."

Sinclair and Timbers midfielder Sebastian Blanco will co-captain one team, while Thorns defender Kelli Hubly and Timbers midfielder Diego Chara will co-captan the other.

The four co-captains will hold a draft to pick their teams in an event that will be streamed next week.

"I always believe we are stronger together, and I'm excited to be able to play in a match that means so much more than soccer," Chara said. "This is an opportunity for us as players, as a club and as a city to help the people of Ukraine in an incredibly difficult time."

One team will suit up in yellow Nike uniforms; the other will play in Adidas blue.

The match will be 60 minutes and played full field. If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, it will be settled n a shootout.

The match will be streamed on both the Thorns and Timbers websites.

"More than 2 million children have become refugees since the the start of the ... war, and an additional 2.5 million children have been displaced," UNICEF President and CEO Michael Nyenhuis said. "UNICEf is delivering critical, life-saving supplies as well as a psychological support to these children and their families.

"The organization is so grateful to supporters like the Timbers, Thorns and their fans who make this work possible."