Steven Taylor endures nightmare debut for Portland Timbers
Sunday 7 August 2016 15:08, UK
Former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor had a nightmare debut for his new American team Portland Timbers.
The 30-year-old, who joined the Major League Soccer franchise after his Magpies contract expired in the summer, was given a run out in the Timbers reserve team at Los Angeles Galaxy II.
But his appearance was one the centre-back will want to banish from his memory - and quickly.
Just nine minutes into the game he diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper - 1-0.
The hosts then ran in two more goals for a 3-0 half-time lead. Taylor was substituted after the hour mark and watched from the sidelines as - without him - his new team-mates rallied to pull off a miraculous 4-3 victory.
Speaking last week Taylor, who has joined former Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell in Oregon, told Portland's website: "It's a new challenge for me, a new chapter in my career.
"It's a new lease of life for me out here now. The excitement's back. I've got my happy feet."
Taylor is expected to continue building his fitness in the reserves before joining the first-team squad.
