The Portland Timbers came within inches of what could have been considered an embarrassing loss in their squad’s history on Tuesday night. To make matters worse, it nearly came at the hands of its bitter rivals’ reserve squad.
Facing elimination at Starfire Sports Complex, the Timbers narrowly avoided becoming the first MLS team to fall to an MLS NEXT Pro side — and not just any side, but the Seattle Sounders’ Tacoma Defiance — before a stoppage-time penalty salvaged a dramatic 3-2 victory in Round 4 of the US Open Cup.
Kevin Kelsy buried the decisive penalty in the 93rd minute, sealing the Timbers’ escape after a back-and-forth clash that saw both sides trade late blows.
Zac McGraw opened the scoring for Portland with a first-half header, while Tacoma stormed back in the second half behind goals from Osaze De Rosario and Yu Tsukanome. Gage Guerra pulled Portland level in the 80th minute before Kelsy’s spot kick sent the MLS side through to the Round of 16.
The Pacific Northwest was treated with a balmy 75 degree evening and a packed stadium as fans packed in looking for a dream result against the Sounders organization’s historic Cascadia Rival in Portland.
Seattle once again sent netminder Andrew Thomas, full back Reed Baker-Whiting, and right-side winger Georgi Minounga to support Tacoma in the clash. Cody Baker was unavailable after seeing a second yellow in Extra Time against Oakland Roots in Round 3.
The first half hour only showed glimmers of chances. Long balls by Portland and frustrating spurts of possession as Tacoma played with an intensity synonymous with success to try and catch its opponents asleep.
In the seventh minute, the Timbers earned a free kick from the left center of the pitch from 30 yard out. The first shot of the match is on frame from Cristhian Paredas was easily dealt with by Thomas. In the 14th, Tacoma’s de Rosario broke down the left side, finding the cross into the feet of teammate Snyder Brunell only eight yards out. Tacoma’s moment of magic had to wait; however, as Brunell’s effort waslofted into the trees.
Tacoma’s work rate begin to show cracks in Portland’s shape; Tacoma dropping into a well-organized 4-1-4-1 had Portland resorting to long vertical balls and firm square passes into a crowded midfield. But it wasn’t to say their methods weren’t paying off. In the 33th, Portland earned a corner from the right side and the ball was whipped in to the back of the 6-yard-box by the Timbers’ Ariel Lassiter onto the head of McGraw who helped it in for the first goal of the match and a 1-0 Portland lead.
After halftime, each side made changes, bringing on Tsukanome for Tacoma and Daniel Nunez for Portland. This was the revitalization the home side was looking to earn out of the break. Georgi Minoungou of Tacoma began testing the Portland wing in the first five minutes of the second half as he received the ball down the right side in the 48th minute, taking it to the end line and cutting the cross to the back post to the right foot of De Rosario. De Rosario didn’t make a mistake as Brunell had in the opening moments, finishing into the bottom left of the goal to square the match at 1-1.
Two minutes after the goal, Baker-Whiting slipped a ball into a charging Minoungou at the end-line. Minoungou shifted the ball back towards the penalty marker and gave Tsukanome a perfectly weighted ball to redirect into the back of the net.
Tsukanome’s goal was his third in two matches, and fifth in the 2025 Open Cup campaign to bring Defiance ahead, 2-1.
In the 79th, the Timbers substituted Guerra — a Timbers II contracted player coming off a hat trick in his last match on April 23rd against Ventura County in MLS NP — hoping to make a difference and come from behind. His involvement is immediate as the Timbers worked the ball back to their box, shifted out wide to the right to Cristhian Paredes who found Ian Smith on a long diagonal ball in the left corner. Smith picked his head up as Tacoma tracked back to find the head of Guerra, smashing the header past Thomas and leveling up the match with ten minutes remaining in regulation.
Tacoma continued its pressure and intensity as another Extra Time result seemed imminent. Three minutes were given for stoppage time, and as Portland pushed forward for a result, the home side was forced to keep a deep line and clear any danger coming their way.
In 93rd minute, a lifeline appeared.
Minoungou put in a late challenge on Portland’s Eric Miller and the officials were left with no choice but to award a penalty kick. Kelsy stepped up to take the spot kick, converting to his right and sealing the victory for Portland on the final whistle just seconds after the restart.
Tacoma showed its talent and earned the respect of many around the country.
Peter Kingston of Tacoma was confident in the quality Tacoma can show week after week. “(Tonight’s match) was a great learning experience for everyone on the team and it kind of just shows that we’re able to keep up with these guys” said Kingston. “I think (MLS NP teams) should know now that we can play with any (MLS) First Team, and for sure play with any (MLS) Second Team.”
The culture of the Sounders organization does not discriminate for age, seeing an average age difference of the starting XI 6.6 years younger than Portland’s senior team as four teenagers appeared in Tacoma’s lineup.
The Timbers now await the Round of 16 draw to find their next opponent. Portland will host a Western Conference MLS match on Saturday May 10 as favorites by the bookmakers against Sporting Kansas City. They sit in third in the Western Conference after 11 games, but only three points off of FC Dallas in ninth. Tacoma Defiance look ahead at two away Cascadia matches in MLS NEXT Pro as they sit second in the table, first in the West. Tuesday’s match gives the team a taste of what is to come against Vancouver Whitecaps II and Portland Timbers II come May 14 and 18, respectively.