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Portland Timbers

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Portland Timbers file protest claiming LAFC fielded too many international players (UPDATED)

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USOC PDX-LAXUPDATE (7/20, 11:12 p.m.) – The Portland Timbers announced that they are withdrawing their protest.

The day after the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the US Soccer Federation was supposed to perform the draw to see which teams will host the Semifinals and who will have hosting priority for the Final. However, a wrench was thrown into those plans when the Portland Timbers notified the federation that they are filing a protest after losing to Los Angeles FC, 3-2.

The details of the protest were not released, but upon closer examination, it appears as though Los Angeles FC may have violated tournament rules. The rules state (Section 202(d) of the 2018 US Open Cup handbook): “A team may list up to 18 players on its game day roster. Professional teams may have no more than 5 foreign players listed. Amateur teams are not restricted as to the number of foreign players they may list. Foreign players shall be those players who are not protected individuals as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (e.g. U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees and refugees).”

Out of the players who saw the field for LAFC on Wednesday night, six of them are international players. One more than the limit of five.

Tyler Miller (GK)
Marco Urena – international
Carlos Vela – international
Diego Rossi – international
Steven Beitashour
Walker Zimmerman
Laurent Ciman – international
Jordan Harvey
Mark-Anthony Kaye – international
Lee Nguyen
Latif Blessing
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Subs:
Benny Feilhaber
Adama Diomande – international
Dejan Jakovic

Latif Blessing and Dejan Jakovic both have green cards and do not count as international players. Players who are from Canada, according to US Open Cup rules, count as international players, which would include Mark-Anthony Kaye.

TheCup.us has confirmed that Kaye does not have a green card but is officially listed as a domestic player within Major League Soccer because he is a “homegrown international.” In US Open Cup play, there is no indication that Kaye would qualify as a domestic player under that policy. The US Soccer Federation does not operate using MLS’ roster rules. But he is listed as a domestic player on the LAFC gameday roster for the Timbers game.

Sources have told TheCup.us that LAFC even went so far as to contact the federation to confirm that Kaye was eligible. He was approved. All emails and related materials have been sent to the Open Cup Disciplinary Committee and they are expected to make a ruling over the weekend.

It is unclear what the punishment would be because there’s no precedent. There has not been a roster violation committed by a professional team during the Modern Era (1995-present).

The only similar situation to this occurred during the 2013 US Open Cup qualifying tournament run by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The New York Pancyprian Freedoms submitted a roster that featured an ineligible player and it was approved. When that player was discovered to have been ineligible, their opponent, Newtown Pride FC (Conn.) filed a protest and the Freedoms were disqualified. New York argued that it was not their fault that their roster was approved erroneously, so the game was replayed.

Stay tuned for updates … #USOC2018

2018 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Carlos Vela leads LAFC to 3-2 win over Portland Timbers in front of record crowd

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LAUPDATE: Portland Timbers file protest claiming LAFC fielded too many international players

Carlos Vela scored his first goal since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia to continue the run of Los Angeles FC in their inaugural Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Vela, playing in a traditional No. 10 role, controlled the center of the field for LAFC in a 3-2 Quarterfinal round victory on Wednesday night over Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium.

“I’m really happy to help my teammates. I think this team can dream high and I’m happy to be here,” Vela said.

Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team has won its first three tournament games and advances to the Open Cup Semifinals, scheduled for next month.

“We’re more close to winning a title so we’re working hard to be there in the final, so I think we have to work hard to keep this level and be a better team,” Vela said.

It was the second meeting between the two MLS teams in four days, as they played to a scoreless draw on Sunday, June 15 before combining for three goals in the first half on Wednesday night.

“Tonight was a much faster-paced game,” LAFC manager Bob Bradley said. “The differences between playing at night and playing in the afternoon, and we were a little lucky to be on the good side (but) we need as many games like this as possible.”

Los Angeles FC dominated possession in the first half, but back-to-back saves from goalkeeper Tyler Miller gave the team confidence.

“Making a double save at an important time in the game, and Tyler has played really well lately,” Bradley said. “I thought we had a good start to the game, but we got caught in transition so that situation turned into a great chance and he had to make a second save.”

LAFC sent wave after wave of attacking players into the Timbers defensive third before breaking through in the 31st minute when Vela sent a cross into the danger zone in front of goal.

The ball glanced off the head of Timbers midfielder David Guzman and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jeff Antinella to give LAFC a 1-0 lead.

“We had less possession, fewer passes but we were still dangerous,” Bradley said. “We thought giving Carlos a little freedom would make sense, which I thought tonight was great.”

Vela was in the middle of LAFC’s attack throughout the night, and gave the home team a 2-0 lead eight minutes later after finding the ball in Portland’s penalty area and slotting a shot low and hard past Antinella.

“This game was a better game for the fans, and today there was more spaces to get the ball, to receive, to make good chances,” Vela said. “I feel better playing (in the slot) because I link more with my teammates, and I think it’s my best position to create chances.”

The 17,898 fans in attendance — a Quarterfinal record for the Modern Era — were certainly treated to an entertaining game.

Portland found its way onto the scoreboard in first-half stoppage time when David Guzman lofted a free kick onto the head of Julio Cascante for an easy finish past Miller and get the Timbers a goal right before halftime.

More goals came early in the second half as Marco Urena got on the end of a rebound and blasted it past Antinella for a 3-1 lead in the 51st minute. It was Urena’s first goal at Banc of California Stadium.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time but I’m really happy right now,” Urena said. “It’s an important moment for me and I feel the support of the guys.”

Timbers defender Vytautas Andriuskevicius got one back a little more than a minute later, bombing down the left side before shooting past Miller to put immediate pressure back upon LAFC.

The home team handled any further trouble and saw out the game with a series of tactical substitutions, with Benny Feilhaber coming in for Lee Nguyen and Adama Diomande replacing Urena before the 70th minute.

Diomande had a late goal disallowed by a questionable offside call as LAFC pressed for some insurance.

“Dio was onside. You know that, right?” Bradley said. “He scored that.”

2018 US Open Cup Round 4: Young Portland Timbers feature in 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes

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Jeremy Ebobisse scores the first goal of the game for the Portland Timbers in their 2018 US Open Cup match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Photo: Allison Andrews | SoccerCityUSA.com
Jeremy Ebobisse scores the first goal of the game for the Portland Timbers in their 2018 US Open Cup match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Photo: Allison Andrews | SoccerCityUSA.com

The Portland Timbers defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in front of 12,769 fan at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. With the victory, the Timbers advance to the Fifth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Earthquakes featured a primarily first choice lineup which included star striker Chris Wondolowski, while the Timbers called up several players from their reserve side, Portland Timbers 2, to start in the match, which only featured Diego Chara from the first choice lineup.

“I was very pleased with the performance all around from everyone who stepped on the field and they got the job done,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said following the match. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. They had a lot of starters. They had a lot of players, important players, and we knew we had to battle. I was very pleased not only because we were able to score the two goals and win the match, but we showed some maturity with a lot of the young guys and we kept the ball, we knew when to move it, when to go forward and all around I thought it was a great performance by the guys. I’m very proud of the way they played today.”

While the Earthquakes started out on the front foot for the first few minutes of the match, the Timbers quickly took control of the match, with call ups Renzo Zambrano and Marvin Loria providing much of the early spark for the Timbers.

After several minutes of trading chances, the Timbers would finally get their breakthrough in the 28th minute, as Jeremy Ebobisse found himself with space in the 18, a quick cut-back and left footed shot floated past San Jose goalkeeper Andy Tarbell, giving the Timbers the lead.

“I knew was going to turn out. I was lucky to get that first touch toward goal. From there, I saw Marvin making a good run in the box so my first thought was to feed him. I didn’t trust my right foot in that instance, so I cut it back and luckily had some time and took a good goal.” Ebobisse said following the match.

Feeling pressure to level the match before the break, the Earthquakes pushed higher in the attack and saw chances from Jahmir Hyka and Jackson Yueill blocked and saved, respectively, and the teams went in to the locker room with the Timbers ahead 1-0.

Coming out of the break, the Earthquakes continued to push for an equalizer, but it was the Timbers who once again found the back of the net.

On the counterattack, Chara sped down the center of the pitch toward the San Jose goal. With defenders collapsing on him, he found an unmarked Dairon Asprilla, who slotted the ball past the feet of Tarbell to double the Timbers lead in the 66th minute.

With the match in hand and the Earthquakes making attacking substitutions, the Timbers were happy to take a more defensive posture, absorbing the pressure from the San Jose attack to ensure their victory and advancement on to the next round.

With the victory, the Timbers will face the LA Galaxy in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup at Providence Park.

2016 US Open Cup Round 4: Portland Timbers’ youth movement blanks San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0

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The Portland Timbers celebrate a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Jeff Wong | Prost Amerika
The Portland Timbers celebrate a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Jeff Wong | Prost Amerika

Let’s get this out of the way: Timbers Open Cup matches have a history of being weird. Entertaining, but weird. One need only look as far back as last season’s match against the Seattle Sounders, a game fans of both sides refer to as the Red Card Wedding, the result of which may be a six-year suspension of USMNT player Clint Dempsey.

But, while Tuesday night’s match against MLS opponent San Jose was entertaining, it wasn’t really weird. In the end, after a lack of drama, the Timbers emerged with a 2-0 victory.

The two sides met prior to the international break in a rough-and-tumble league match that ended 2-1 in Portland, earning the home team three points in the league standings despite playing down a man for the entire second half.

The Timbers were fast out of the gate with Jack Barmby slipping past the Earthquakes’ defense early in the first half, shuffling the ball to Dairon Asprilla, who couldn’t quite get a handle on it. It was just the first of many close calls in a game that grew progressively more chippy as the minutes flew by.

“I thought everything went exactly the way we’d hoped,” Portland coach Caleb Porter said. “We played nine guys 25 years old or younger, started seven. That’s a real positive that we can play a lot of young guys, mix them in with some experienced guys … and get the job done. That gives us a lot of hope for the future.”

Portland’s two goals were scored by two of those younger players: the 34th minute goal came from Dairon Asprilla, 24, and the 40th minute goal came off a stunning freekick from Jack McInerney, 23.

“I think we knew what to expect,” Portland’s Jack Jewsbury said after the game. “I think everybody tonight, when their number was called, put in a great shift.”

“Every year’s different, every team’s different,” Porter said. “We made a decision four or five games ago that we need to be a team … that’s on the front foot more. Our pressure has been much better the last five or six games, our possession has been much better. I think we’ve become a little more multi-faceted this year than we were last year.”

Portland will now wait for the results of this round’s other matches and the draw to follow on June 16.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: SAN JOSE AT PORTLAND

2015 US Open Cup Round 5: Real Salt Lake shut out Portland Timbers in rematch of 2013 Semifinals (video)

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Javier Morales scored his second goal of the tournament for Real Salt Lake from the penalty spot. Photo: Real Salt Lake
Javier Morales scored his second goal of the tournament for Real Salt Lake from the penalty spot. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Sebastian Jaime continued his fine run of form Wednesday night as Real Salt Lake continued its success against the Portland Timbers on their home turf.

Jaime scored for the third time in four games, opening the scoring in the 54th minute, and Javier Morales added a 71st-minute penalty as RSL blanked the Timbers 2-0 in a fifth-round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Sandy, Utah.

A crowd of 15,840 turned out at Rio Tinto Stadium on a sweltering night that saw the mercury at 97 degrees at kickoff, and the vast majority left happy with the claret and cobalt having booked a quarterfinal berth against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“It’s about the Open Cup. It’s about winning a trophy. It’s about winning three games and we’re there,” said RSL coach Jeff Cassar, whose team advanced to the final eight in the tournament for the third time in the past five years. “I wrote it up on the board yesterday: Four games. We got one out of the way and we have three more. We’ve got to take them one at a time. It’s not really about who you’re playing, it’s just about getting the victory.”

Neither team was at full strength. The home side was without goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman (U.S.) and striker Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica), who were with their respective national teams preparing for the Gold Cup. Portland’s Will Johnson (Canada) also was away on international duty, while fellow midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Diego Chara didn’t make the trip to Utah and standouts Diego Valeri and Fanendi Adi started the match on the bench.The Timbers had the better chances in a rather ho-hum first half.

They actually had the ball in the net in the 7th minute after a great combination sequence between George Fochive and Argentinian forwards Maxi Urruti and Gaston Fernandez that ended with Fernandez putting the ball past RSL keeper Jeff Attinella, but the flag was up for offside. Six minutes later, Urruti ripped a shot from the top of the box that forced Attinella to make a diving save, then scramble to corral the rebound before a Timbers player could get to it.

Center back Aaron Maund provided RSL with its best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, sending a header over the crossbar off a free kick by Morales in the 28th.

The hosts finally broke through early in the second half. Olmes Garcia slid a pass to Jaime on the right side of the box between Portland center backs Liam Ridgewell and Nat Borchers – the latter a former RSL fan favorite making his first return to Rio Tinto – and the Argentinian forward slotted a shot past Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey to the far post.

“Jaime, he’s feeling it right now,” Cassar said of the designated player, who scored his first goal for RSL in a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on June 21 and added another in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew. “He’s confident, he’s making good runs when the guys are delivering the ball.”

Referee Jose Carlos Rivero had decisions to make on potential penalties on both ends with 20 minutes remaing. Rivero waved play on when Urruti went down in the box, then pointed to the spot when Fochive clipped RSL striker Joao Plata just inside the box on the other end.

“I have to watch it again. For me it’s a bit harsh … It’s on the edge of the box, tangling, but I’ve got to watch it,” Portland coach Caleb Porter said. “You’ll look at the first goal we scored; you’ll probably notice he wasn’t offside, so there’s a good goal. If we get that the game’s different. Maxi goes down in the box and no call; their guy goes down in the box and it’s a call. It’s a game of moments, it’s a game of mistakes, it’s a game of capitalizing on opportunities. It fell in their favor today. Otherwise I thought it was a very tight, even game – what you would expect of a cup game.”

Morales took a long run-up on the penalty, stutter-stepped and beat Kwarasey on a shot to the keeper’s right – the Ghanaian dove the right way but couldn’t stop Morales from scoring his fifth goal of the season in all competitions.

Valeri, who came on just after the hour mark, nearly pulled one back for the Timbers off a free kick from 23 yards out on the left side in the 77th, but the wicked strike skimmed the top of the crossbar. Jaime, meanwhile, nearly added another insurance goal in the 83rd, only to see Kwarasey deny his blast from the top of the box on the right side.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT REAL SALT LAKE

2015 US Open Cup Round 4: Portland Timbers take advantage of Clint Dempsey meltdown, beat 7-man Seattle Sounders 3-1 in OT (video)

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Clint Dempsey is sent off in the 112th minute after ripping up referee Daniel Radford's notebook. Photo: Video screengrab
Clint Dempsey is sent off in the 112th minute after ripping up the referee’s notebook. Photo: Video screengrab

UPDATE: The Round of 16 draw was conducted by the US Soccer Federation and it was determined that Real Salt Lake will host the Portland Timbers in the next round.

In what will likely go down as one of the most-memorable matches in the contentious rivalry between Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers FC, the visiting Timbers took advantage of a short-handed Sounders team in added time, delivering their hosts a 3-1 loss, marking the first time Seattle has lost in US Open Cup play at Starfire Stadium.

Despite the history, however, this match will likely be remembered more for the Sounders finishing with seven men, thanks to three red cards and an injury to Obafemi Martins that came moments after Sounders coach Sigi Schmid had used his final substitution. With Seattle already playing with nine men, but only trailing 2-1, Michael Azira was shown a red card for an apparent elbow in the 112th minute, and during the post-red card argument between the referee and the Seattle players, Clint Dempsey was sent off for ripping up the referee’s notebook. The Timbers would add a third goal in the final minutes to put the game away.

VIDEO: Clint Dempsey sent off

The first half gave no indication of the thrills that were in store for the 4,022 in attendance for the Fourth Round derby. None of the three officially tallied shots were on goal, with Aaron Kovar’s long shot from the left side was the lone pulse-quickening moment when it bulged the side netting from the wrong side.

Seattle made a change of jersey in the locker room, switching from their “Pitch Black” to mostly white tops, potentially to help better distinguish from the dark green of Portland as the Starfire lighting failed to keep pace with the fading sunlight.

Fortunately, the game also made a change, and fairly quickly after the resumption of play.
Rodney Wallace’s cross from the left flank looped over the Seattle defense and headed toward the far post. Just before Leo Gonzalez could get his head to the ball for a clearance attempt, Diego Valeri extended right foot high enough to poke it past keeper Troy Perkins, who was making his 2015 competitive debut.

Photo: Seattle Sounders FC
Photo: Seattle Sounders FC

Falling behind seemed to inspire Seattle into action, as they immediately sprung into life on the offensive end and began putting together the sincere offensive threats their possession advantage in the first half failed to deliver.

But Adam Kwarasey was ready.

Obafemi Martins charged into the area and curled a hard shot toward the far post, which was sent away by a diving effort from the Portland keeper in the 51st minute. Moments later, a cross found Kovar directly in front of goal, mere feet from his target, but, again, Kwarasey parried the threat away to safety.

The game seemed to reach a potential tipping point when Brad Evans fouled Jorge Villafana. Referee Daniel Radford, who’d already given Evans a yellow for a careless foul in the 38th minute, sent the captain off for the play, dropping Seattle to ten men.

Despite the personnel advantage, though, Portland was unable regain control of the momentum as the Sounders offered no indication they were short-handed and continued to press for the equalizer. That equalizer finally came through a corner that escaped the swiping effort of Kwarasey as ended its arc in the path of Martins, who slotted the ball cleanly past the goal line in the 79th minute.

Then the man they call “Oba!” effected yet another sea change.

Moments after Tyrone Mears replaced Gonzalez in the 84th minute as Schmid’s third and final substitution, Martins went to the ground near midfield and required attention from the medical staff. At one point, Martins attempted to stand with assistance but quickly sat back down on the turf, which brought the stretcher onto the field to get the player off and play restarted.

Without their catalyst and goalscorer, the nine-man Sounders squad found themselves being pushed back by an ambitious Portland attack and struggled to carry the 1-1 scoreline through the extended injury time beyond regulation.

While the two teams prepared for the extra soccer, it became clear that Martins was not returning to action, leaving the hosts two men down for the final thirty minutes.

Or, as it would turn out, at least two men down.

Portland started the first overtime period much the way they ended regulation, using their superior numbers to create chances, but it was ultimately another set piece that broke the deadlock. A ball delivered from a corner was cleared out of the area to where George Fochive had time and space to return it goalward. Before it could get to the goal line, Fochive’s effort was deflected, finding Wallace, who tidied up and ran to the Portland bench to celebrate in the 110th minute.

After swapping ends for the final 15 minutes, Portland continued to control play, with undermanned Seattle managing the the odd push into Timbers territory. On one such venture, Michael Azira charged into a challenge, sending Gaston Fernandez to the turf. Radford produced a red card for the play, dropping Seattle to just eight players.

That is, until Clint Dempsey snatched what appeared to be the referee’s notebook from his hand, flung it to the ground, walked immediately over to the object, picked it up, tore it into pieces and threw it into the air. For his actions, Dempsey was given consecutive yellow cards and had to be restrained by teammates as he attempted to go after Radford.

Down to six outfield players, Seattle was left with no real chance to avoid the loss, nor to stop Maximiliano Urruti’s final blow in the 116th minute on a low shot from the edge of the area that got inside the post just a bit more quickly than Perkins was able to get to the ground to stop it.

For the Sounders, it was the end of a number of streaks. In the team’s franchise history, dating back to their USL days, they had never lost at Starfire Sports Complex. Their 19-game unbeaten streak would end (18-0-1). Since joining Major League Soccer, the Sounders had never lost a home game of any kind in Open Cup play (15-0-1, 1-0 in PKs). Also, this marked the first time, since joining MLS that Seattle had been defeated by another MLS team, an unbeaten streak of 16 games (14-0-2) also snapped. And between the two rivals, this was the first time the Timbers had defeated the Sounders in US Open Cup play in a decade. The last time Portland beat Seattle in the tournament was in 2005 when they were both members of the United Soccer Leagues and the Timbers beat them in the Rose City, 2-0.

The result means there will be a new champion of the US Open Cup. Portland will take their next step in a bid to win the hardware in two weeks when Round 5 is set to begin. Their opponent will be determined on June 18 when the US Soccer Federation conducts the draw.

FULL MATCH REPLAY: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS

2014 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Seattle Sounders back in Semifinals after 3-1 OT win over rival Portland Timbers (video)

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Osvaldo Alonso's acrobatic goal in the 69th minute gave the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 lead over the Portland Timbers. Photo: Brandon Bleek for Prost Amerika
Osvaldo Alonso’s acrobatic goal in the 69th minute helped the Sounders to a 3-1 extra-time win over the Timbers. Photo: Brandon Bleek for Prost Amerika

The Seattle Sounders once again downed Cascadian rivals, the Portland Timbers, though the needed an extra 30 minutes to put them away. The Sounders advanced to the US Open Cup Semifinals for the seventh time in eight years with their 3-1 extra-time win.

Portland’s Darlington Nagbe notched a goal at the death of full time, neutralizing a Sounders lead forged by Osvaldo Alonso’s acrobatic goal 21 minutes earlier. Diego Chara then put the Timbers on the disadvantage in extra time by earning a straight red card, and Seattle made them pay thanks to goals by Kenny Cooper and Marco Pappa. Seattle has run its Open Cup winning streak over its archrivals to four straight (3-1-1, 1-0 in PKs), with its only loss coming in 2005.

Through coincidence, this is the first of two matches between these sides in Seattle within five days. Playing in front of more than 4,200 fans in Tukwila’s Starfire Soccer Complex, the sides will return to CenturyLink Field for Sunday’s MLS competition. Boosting the Sounders was the return of DeAndre Yedlin from his duty with the US Men’s National Team, on the defender’s 21st birthday.

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While Yedlin was in excellent form, the main story of this game, as it is any time Portland and Seattle tangle on the pitch, was the chippiness from both sides. Timbers midfielder (and 2014 USOC scoring co-leader) Gaston Fernandez earned his way into the ref’s book for a rough tackle 16 minutes in, to be followed only eight minutes later by longtime thorn in Portland’s side Zach Scott. While Seattle held possession in the early moments of the game, it was unable to generate any serious chances before Portland settled in and were able to force Sounders’ keeper Stefan Frei into a couple of excellent saves.

The chippiness continued strong in the second half, as Jack Jewsbury faced off with multiple Sounders as he flirted with getting carded. Seattle enjoyed retaking the run of action, and looked for the payoff. It would come in the 69th minute as Brad Evans set up Lamar Neagle to cross towards the goal. Osvaldo Alonso made an acrobatic move to heel a redirect past Timbers’ keeper Donovan Ricketts into the net.

Running out of time, Portland stepped up their possession, but while it couldn’t crack the host’s defense, it did apparently beat their lights. Half of the lights in Starfire went out with about ten minutes to go in regular time, leaving the rest of the game to be played in dim conditions.

The darkness didn’t faze former Sounder Steve Zakuani, as he took the ball in the last minute of stoppage time and slotted through the crowd to Darlington Nagbe, who shot true past Frei and sent the game into extra time.

Osvaldo Alonso of Seattle Sounders celebrates his 7th career US Open Cup goal. Photo: Brandon Bleek for Prost Amerika
Osvaldo Alonso of Seattle Sounders celebrates his 7th career US Open Cup goal. Photo: Brandon Bleek for Prost Amerika

With about nine minutes gone in the extra session, the game took a turn for the worse for the Timbers.

Diego Chara was beaten badly off the ball by Marco Pappa, and lashed out with a studs-up scissor kick to Pappa. Referee Chris Penso did not hesitate to show Chara a red card, putting the Timbers a man down. Penso did not hesitate to show Portland coach Cameron Knowles red either for arguing the call in between extra-time periods. Knowles was also shown red in 2007’s Open Cup matchup with the Sounders.

The Sounders pressed hard in the second extra period, taking the lead in the 110th minute.

Gonzalo Pinedo crossed a ball in that sub Kenny Cooper was able to head right behind Ricketts and in. The goal was Cooper’s fourth of the 2014 Open Cup, tying him with Fernandez and Blake Smith of the Indy Eleven.

The Timbers, needing a goal to keep their Cup hopes alive, sent players forward in a scramble for the equalizer. What they got instead, just six minutes later, was Pappa hitting a low rocket from outside of the box to clinch the game.

Seattle will once again take to Starfire in the quest for their fourth Open Cup, hosting the Chicago Fire at 7:30 on August 13. This game will also be a rematch, this time of the 2011 Final that the Sounders won 2-0, deny Chicago their fifth title while giving Seattle their third.

HIGHLIGHTS: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

MATCH REPLAY: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Scoring Summary
SEA: Alonso (Neagle), 69
POR: Nagbe (Zakuani), 90+3
SEA: Cooper (Pineda), 110
SEA: Pappa (unassisted), 115

Misconduct Summary
POR: Fernández (Caution), 16
SEA: Scott (Caution), 23
SEA: Pineda (Caution), 67
SEA: Alonso (Caution), 94
POR: Chara (Ejection), 99

Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Ricketts, D Harrington, D O’Rourke, D McKenzie, D Villafaña (Zakuani, 77), M Chara, M Fernández, M Jewsbury © (Johnson, 81), F Valeri, F Adi, F Wallace (Nagbe, 60)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Weber, D Peay, M Alhassan, M Nanchoff

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Fernández, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Fernández, 6); FOULS: 17 (Adi, 6); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6

SEA: GK Frei, D Yedlin (Azira, 90), D Marshall, D Scott, D Anibaba, M Evans ©, M Alonso, M Pineda, M Neagle, F Barrett (Pappa, 64), F Weaver (Cooper, 79)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Ford, M Kovar, F Bowen, F Okoli

TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Neagle, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Alonso, 3); FOULS: 14 (Marshall, Neagle, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 8

Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: Paul Scott, Chris Strickland
4th Official: Allan Chapman
Attendance: 4,233
Time of Game: 2:33
Weather: Sunny, 77 degrees

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: Portland Timbers counter-attack their way past Sporting Kansas City, 3-1 (video)

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portland-timbers-2012-logoCaleb Porter took a classic page out of the World Cup playbook: come in with a defensive game plan and leave with a victory.

A brace by Gaston Fernandez sandwiched a Will Johnson penalty as the Portland Timbers beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1 in the US Open Cup Fifth Round.

“You see it in the World Cup,” Porter said. “We came up with a plan of absorbing a little bit and then being a bit more lethal on the counter attack and I thought the guys executed it to a T.”

Sporting controlled the play for much of the game with Portland content to use Porter’s sit deep and counter plan. The hosts had chances right out of the gate. Former Timber Sal Zizzo had a fifth-minute header tipped over the bar and Dom Dwyer had a swerving free kick pushed wide by a diving Andrew Weber. Portland’s opener came in the 30th minute against the run of play.

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It was shades of the Nigeria-Bosnia World Cup match as KC left back Seth Sinovic went down under the challenge of Kalif Alhassan, but referee Ricardo Salazar waved play on as Sporting players called for a foul. Alhassan’s cross deflected to Gaston Fernandez and the Timbers’ No. 10 calmly rolled the ball into the far corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

“They had a lot of the ball, but that was by design,” Porter said. “You can control the game without …and you see that at the highest level. I thought we actually controlled the game pretty well without the ball.”

Sporting had a decent chance to equalize nine minutes later when Soony Saad’s shot deflected to Toni Dovale, but his shot at an open net hit Dwyer and went out for a goal kick.

Sporting continued to struggle connecting passes in the final third despite having most of the ball and Portland made them pay shortly after halftime. Steve Zakuani beat two Sporting defenders and got tripped up by Aurelien Collin in the box. Salazar pointed to the spot and Will Johnson tucked the penalty into the corner to double the lead. It was 3-1 11 minutes later when Maximiliano Urruti’s shot squirted under Andy Gruenebaum and right to an unmarked Fernandez for an easy tap-in and his second goal of the game.

“He’s a poacher, he’s a goalscorer, that’s why they call him ‘The Cat,’ ” Porter said when asked about Fernandez. “On third goal the ball fell to him…you can call it an easy goal, I that’s a goalscorer. He’s scored three or four like that.”

Saad pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after a Danny O’Rourke handball and C.J. Sapong had a header cleared off the line four minutes later, but Sporting could get no closer.

“We weren’t hard enough to play against defensively,” said Sporting manager Peter Vermes.

It was a phrase he’d repeat several times.

Portland will travel to Seattle to face the Sounders in the Quarterfinals.

Kansas City and Portland will meet again in MLS league play on Friday.

HIGHLIGHTS: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT SPORTING KANSAS CITY

POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: CALEB PORTER, WILL JOHNSON

MATCH REPLAY: PORTLAND TIMBERS AT SPORTING KANSAS CITY

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: Portland Timbers exorcise past demons, shut out Orlando City U23s 3-0 (video)

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Gaston Fernandez scored a pair of goals for the Portland Timbers in a 3-0 win over the Orlando City U23s. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer | Portland Timbers
Gaston Fernandez scored a pair of goals for the Portland Timbers in a 3-0 win over the Orlando City U23s. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer | Portland Timbers

The Orlando City U23s of the Premier Development League (PDL) met the Portland Timbers at Providence Park in Portland, Ore., Tuesday in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Normally a quality amateur team coming to visit a professional team wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, but the Timbers have suffered two home losses to amateur clubs in recent history so no one was taking anything for granted.

The 2014 edition of the Timbers weren’t bothered at all by the ghosts of Hollywood United (2008) and Cal FC (2012) as the home team cruised to a 3-0 win over Orlando.

Midfielder Gaston Fernandez led the team with a pair of goals while rookie defender Taylor Peay showed a sign of what may be on the horizon with a goal of his own.

Orlando came out fighting, earning a couple of early chances but it wasn’t able to convert. Forward Romario Williams managed two of Orlando’s five shots, but neither was on frame.

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Portland went up early in the first half on a rocket from Fernandez in the 11th minute. He would score again on a penalty in the 36th minute after Orlando keeper Tomas Gomez came off his line and took down Portland forward Maxi Urruti.

“I thought the second half actually was better than the first half,” Portland coach Caleb Porter said. “The first half for me, wasn’t convincing enough. I thought the first half was a little sloppy. We gave some balls away that we shouldn’t. Not a convincing 2-0 at halftime so I tightened the screws a bit.”

Portland’s third goal came in the 68th minute from Peay, making his debut for the Timbers.

“It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said about scoring in his first match. “It’s a good feeling. Caleb stressed the importance of this game and every game from now on. Our goal is to raise a trophy at the end so that’s what we’re going to do.”

HIGHLIGHTS: ORLANDO CITY U23s AT PORTLAND TIMBERS

POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

POST-GAME INTERVIEW: CALEB PORTER

FULL MATCH REPLAY: ORLANDO CITY U23s AT PORTLAND TIMBERS

Scoring Summary
POR: Fernández (Urruti), 11
POR: Fernández (penalty kick), 36
POR: Peay (Urruti), 68

Misconduct Summary
n/a

Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Weber, D Powell (Peay, 56), D O’Rourke, D McKenzie, D Harrington, M Jewsbury ©, M Fernández (Fochive, 71), M Nanchoff, F Alhassan, F Urruti, F Wallace (Tshuma, 80)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Villafaña, M Long

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Urruti, 5);

SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Urruti, 3);

FOULS: 14 (Alhassan, 4);

OFFSIDES: 2;

CORNER KICKS: 14;

SAVES: 1

ORL: GK Gomez, D Brinkman (Johnson, 76), D Svantesson, D Okwuonu, D Russell (Rittmeyer, 69), M Clowes ©, M Souto (Blackwood, 46), M Franke, M Brody, M Sexius, F Williams
Substitutes Not Used: GK Uzcategui, M Popo

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Williams, 5);

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Souto, 1);

FOULS: 9 (Russell, 3);

OFFSIDES: 2;

CORNER KICKS: 1;

SAVES: 7
Referee: Juan Guzman

Assistant Referees: Carlos Tercero, Lucas Brooks

4th Official: Andrew Brooks

Attendance: 10,619

2013 US Open Cup Semifinals: Real Salt Lake tops Portland Timbers 2-1 for first trip to Final

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With a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake will host the 100th US Open Cup Final on Oct. 1 against DC United. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake has won an MLS Cup and played for the CONCACAF Champions League title. Now the nine-year-old Utah club will play in its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.

Alvaro Saborio scored in the seventh minute and set up substitute Joao Plata for what proved to be a vital insurance goal in the 78th as Real Salt Lake held off the Portland Timbers 2-1 Wednesday night in front of 14,742 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium – a record attendance for a semifinal in the tournament’s Modern Pro Era.

RSL will play host to DC United in the 100th US Open Cup final October 1 at Rio Tinto. The winning team will claim a berth in next season’s CONCACAF Champions League and a $250,000 prize in addition to the trophy.

While things certainly could change over the next eight weeks, Real Salt Lake currently is tied for the most points in Major League Soccer, while DC United has the fewest. However, two-time Open Cup champion DC United won the only league meeting between the sides 1-0 back on March 9 in the nation’s capital.

Both Portland and RSL fielded strong sides in the first match of the season between the Western Conference rivals, who also will meet in league play August 21 and 30 and October 19.

RSL welcomed back starting outside backs Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert, but had Ned Grabavoy at the top of its diamond midfield with Javier Morales limited to the bench because of an adductor injury suffered in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids in MLS play. The Timbers’ starting XI was highlighted by midfielder Will Johnson’s return to Salt Lake, where he played for five seasons before being traded to Portland last offseason.

Saborio gave the home team the early lead, heading in a cross from Kyle Beckerman. After a corner kick, Beckerman got the ball on the right flank, created some space around Rodney Wallace and played a cross to the far post that Saborio headed over Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Each side enjoyed stretches of extended possession, but Portland had two great chances to pull level before halftime.

First, Darlington Nagbe found center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste somewhat surprisingly cruising free down the right side in the 40th. Baptiste carried the ball into the box and squared it for Will Johnson, who hit the skipping ball first-time. RSL keeper Nick Rimando made a fine save, flipping the ball up and over the crossbar for a corner kick.

This US Open Cup Semifinal match featured two teams that have never reached the final four, aiming for their first Open Cup title. Photo: Real Salt Lake

Then in first-half stoppage time, Diego Valeri served in a corner kick from the right side that Ryan Johnson got to at the far post. He headed the ball from a tough angle and it hit Beltran – replays indicated the ball might have hit the left back’s arm or shoulder, but whatever the case, referee Mark Geiger didn’t blow his whistle.

The visitors had the better of play for the opening 10 minutes of the second half, too, but didn’t really threaten the goal in that time. Will Johnson received a nice ovation from the RSL fans when he was subbed out with an apparent right arm injury in the 63rd.

Portland had a golden chance to equalize in the 72nd. The RSL back line lost track of Valeri, who was left all alone and got his head on a pinpoint cross from left back Ryan Miller, but the ball flashed wide of the left post.

Six minutes later, the combination of Saborio and Plata teamed up to double Real Salt Lake’s lead.

Plata played the ball ahead to Saborio near the top of the box, and he laid it back for his strike partner. The 5-foot-3 Ecuadorian promptly ripped a shot from 25 yards out that zipped past Ricketts into the left side of the goal, giving RSL a 2-0 lead in the 78th.

The second goal proved to be integral as Valeri did get the Timbers on the board in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. He worked past both Beltran and Borchers and let loose with a shot that Rimando was able to save, but the Argentinian stayed with the ball and headed it in to cut the lead in half. It was the first goal surrendered by RSL in Open Cup play in 282 minutes dating to their 5-2 win over USL Pro’s Charleston Battery in the fourth round.

Semifinal: Portland Timbers 1-2 Real Salt Lake

August 7 | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT | Attendance: 14,742

Scoring Summary

RSL: Alvaro Saborio (Kyle Beckerman) 7

RSL: Joao Plata (Alvaro Saborio) 78

POR: Diego Valeri 91+

Lineups

Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Carlos Salcedo, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert; Luis Gil (Yordany Alvarez 88), Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Khari Stephenson (Javier Morales 80); Alvaro Saborio, Robbie Findley (Joao Plata 61). Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella (GK), Lovel Palmer, Sebastian Velasquez, Olmes Garcia.

Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Ryan Miller (Alvas Powell 77), Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Pa-Modou Kah, Michael Harrington; Will Johnson (Jose Adolfo Valencia 63), Diego Chara, Diego Valeri; Rodney Wallace, Ryan Johnson (Kalif Alhassan 63), Darlington Nagbe. Substitutes not used: Jake Gleeson (GK), Jack Jewsbury, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ben Zemanski.

Disciplinary Summary

RSL: Carlos Salcedo (caution) 42

POR: Ryan Johnson (caution) 42, Pa-Modou Kah (caution) 94+

Statistics

Saves: RSL (Rimando) 5, POR (Ricketts) 2. Shots: RSL 9, POR 13. Corner kicks: RSL 4, POR 8. Fouls: RSL 11, P 12. Offsides: RSL 2, POR 3.

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