Timbers to host EPL's Aston Villa

The Portland Timbers will host Aston Villa of the English Premier League in a friendly at Jeld-Wen Field on July 24.

Aston Villa, based in Birmingham, has won 19 domestic championships since it was founded in 1874, including seven first-division championships, seven FA Cup titles and three European trophies.

The Timbers, founded in 1975 as part of the North American Soccer League, are in their second Major League Soccer season. They have hosted friendlies against several English clubs and EPL sides in recent years, including Manchester City in 2010 and West Bromwich Albion last year.