Another MLS warrior has reached the 300 mark.
The Portland Timbers’ 1-0 loss at Toronto FC on Saturday marked defender Nat Borchers’ 300th career MLS match, making him just the 29th player in league history to reach that milestone.
Borchers – who started 299 of those games – is the second Timber in the MLS era to reach the mark, joining midfielder/defender Jack Jewsbury. He began his career with the Colorado Rapids and made his name over seven solid seasons at Real Salt Lake, where he won an MLS Cup in 2009.
“Well, I wish the circumstances were better,” Borchers told Timbers.com following the game. “Obviously, we’re going through a tough stretch right now. We’ve had a lot of road games and we haven’t gotten the results that we wanted so I think that from that standpoint, it’s disappointing.
“But definitely, individually, it does feel good to get here and I’m looking forward to getting some more games.”
After joining the club from RSL in the offseason, the towering center back has played every minute of the Timbers 2015 campaign, scoring two goals in 12 games. He’s rapidly built a cult following in a city where his voluminous beard and no-nonsense playing style fit right in.
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“They’ve been incredible,” Borchers, 34, said of the Portland fans. “To be honest with you, they’ve been very supportive and they’ve welcomed me with open arms.
“I think the beard probably has a lot to do with it,” he noted with a smile. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to play for them.”
Borchers is the second MLS player to reach the 300 plateau this weekend, with veteran Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch also securing the distinction in the Fire’s 2-2 comeback draw with Columbus Crew SC on Friday night.
Click here to see where Borchers and Busch stack up in terms of all-time MLS longevity.
