Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Portland Timbers

First timers win: Winner of Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers will host 2013 US Open Cup Final

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Lamar Hunt US Open Cup logoThe United States Soccer Federation announced today that the 100th championship game of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will be hosted in a state that has never crowned a tournament champion. After a coin flip at the US Soccer headquarters in Chicago, it was determined that the winner of the semifinal match-up between the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake will be the host of the 2013 US Open Cup Final.

Both semifinal matches are scheduled to be played on Aug. 7. If Real Salt Lake is victorious, they will host the Final on Oct. 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium. If the Portland Timbers prevail, they will host the title game at Jeld-Wen Field on Sept. 24.

The Timbers/RSL game will be broadcast locally in Portland on Root Sports, while Chicago will be providing a live webcast of their game against DC United.

Neither Real Salt Lake or the Timbers have ever reached the championship game, but there’s added significance because neither the state of Utah or the state of Oregon has ever hosted the US Open Cup Final in the 99 previous years of the tournament.

The championship game will be broadcast live on GolTV.

Note: According to a report by Steven Goff, DC United did not apply to host, “citing logistics involving non-soccer events on the RFK Stadium campus during the hosting window.”

2013 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Darlington Nagbe named Player of the Round, helping Portland Timbers reach their first final four

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A goal and an assist were enough to earn Darlington Nagbe of the Portland Timbers TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the quarterfinals. He led his side to a 3-2 victory over fellow MLS squad FC Dallas to send the Timbers to the semifinals for the first time in club history.

Nagbe is the second Timbers player to win Player of the Round this year. Teammate Frederic Piquionne took home the prize for his four-goal performance in the Third Round.

The award is voted on by staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Nagbe beat out the Chicago Fire’s Sean Johnson and Chris Rolfe as well as DC United’s Chris Pontius in a wide open vote.

Down 1-0 to Dallas at halftime, Portland turned to Nagbe for a spark of inspiration. In the 61st minute, Nagbe swerved his way through three defenders and beat Dallas keeper Chris Seitz to level the score at 1-1. After scoring one of the better goals of the tournament, just two minutes later, Nagbe was instrumental in giving the Timbers the lead. He hit a long through ball to Diego Valeri, who scored on a breakaway to put Portland up 2-1.

The Timbers eventually won the game 3-2 thanks to a Piquionne goal, but it was Nagbe who stole the show. His performance was the major reason Portland are now two wins away from becoming the first Oregon club to win the Open Cup title. The Timbers travel to Salt Lake City on August 7 to take on another first-time semifinalist, Real Salt Lake. The winner will host the Final against either DC United or the Chicago Fire. If Portland wins, the championship game will take place on Sept. 24, but if Salt Lake prevails, they will host the game on Oct. 1.

2013 TheCup.us Player of the Round Honors
Quarterfinals: Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
Fourth Round: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
Third Round: Frederic Piquionne (Portland Timbers)
Second Round: Brandon Fricke (Des Moines Menace)
First Round: David Geno (Seattle Sounders U23)
Preliminary Round: Gustavo Villalobos (FC Hasental)

2013 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Portland Timbers survive late scare, beat FC Dallas to reach first Semifinals (video)

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The Portland Timbers celebrate one of their three second half goals as they advance to the Semifinals for the first time in club history. Photo: Tim Heitman | USA Today Sports Images

In a battle between Major League Soccer’s two best second half offenses, the Portland Timbers overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to win a rare game at FC Dallas in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals, 3-2. The Timbers scored three straight goals and survived a late push by the home team to hand Dallas their first loss at FC Dallas Stadium in 13 games in all competitions.

Frederic Piquionne, who continued his breakout season, scored an Open Cup-leading fifth goal which proved to be the game-winner. Dallas would pull within one and hit the woodwork on the game’s final play as Portland would hang on to reach their first US Open Cup semifinal in club history.

Not only does this mark the first time the Timbers have reached the final four, but it’s the first time any team from the state of Oregon has reached the semis in the 100-year history of the US Open Cup.

Dallas and Portland found themselves meeting for the second time in 11 days after the Timbers defeated Dallas 1-0 in Portland on June 15. The two sides also played to a 1-1 draw in Dallas back on May 8. The first ten minutes saw almost no scoring chances created by either side with Dallas maintaining a small majority of possession.

Then in the 15th minute, FC Dallas midfielder Je-Vaughan Watson received a pass from Blas Perez just outside the top of the box and eased his shot just past Donovan Ricketts, who seemed to be caught off guard by the effort, to give Dallas the early 1-0 lead.

Dallas continued to control the game as Perez found himself inside the six yard box, but couldn’t get enough on his shot to trouble Ricketts. Fabian Castillo played through by a sharp David Ferreira pass, got inside the penalty area, but Ricketts got to the ball first.

Timbers playmaker Diego Valeri was rendered largely ineffective in the first half as he saw limited touches in dangerous spots. Portland’s only chances in the first half came courtesy of set pieces. In the 40th minute, Will Johnson had a corner kick skip across the box to Pa Modou Kah, but the defender’s header was on the wrong side of the post by a few inches. Johnson took another corner kick moments later, but it was cleared by Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz, starting in place of regular No.1 Raul Fernandez.

True to form, the second half saw Portland take control as Darlington Nagbe navigated his way past three different Dallas defenders and beat Seitz to level the score at 1-1 in the 61st minute. Two minutes later, Diego Valeri was on the receiving end of a through ball from Nagbe and made it 2-1 Timbers.

Then second half substitute Frederic Piquionne took advantage of a poor back pass from FC Dallas rookie Walker Zimmerman and put Portland up 3-1. For Piquionne, combined with his four-goal performance against the Wilmington Hammerheads in Round 3, the New Caledonia native gave him a tournament-best five goals, which also puts him on top of the club’s all-time Open Cup scoring list.

Dallas got their own second half goal as Perez took advantage of Ricketts howler in the 86th minute to make the score 3-2 Portland.

Dallas had a couple of free kicks in the final minutes of the game, but could not take advantage. David Ferreira had a good look from the edge of the box in stoppage time, but his shot hit the post and just seconds later referee Jose Carlos Rivero signaled the end of the game.

The Timbers continue their fine form under first year head coach Caleb Porter. They lead the league in scoring with 28 goals so far this season. They are also fifth in the league in goals allowed with 16 and Donovan Ricketts was in the middle of a 396-minute shutout streak before Watson’s goal.

Portland’s rabid fan base will not get an opportunity to see their players at home in the next round. The Timbers will travel to Salt Lake City on August 7 to take on Real Salt Lake in the final four. Portland is the first Oregon-based club to reach the Semifinals, and they will meet the first Utah-based club to advance that far.

The winner of that game will meet the winner of the other semifinal between DC United and Chicago Fire in the 100th US Open Cup Final on either the 1st or 2nd of October. The host for the final will be determined via coin flip at a later date.

2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Quarterfinal
Portland Timbers (MLS) vs. FC Dallas (MLS)
June 26, 2013 – FC Dallas Stadium (Frisco, Texas)

Goals by Half 1 2 F
FC Dallas 1 1 2
Portland Timbers 0 3 3

Scoring Summary
DAL: Watson (Perez, Jackson), 15
POR: Nagbe, 61
POR: Valeri (Nagbe), 63
POR: Piquionne, 72
DAL: Perez, 86

Misconduct Summary
POR: Kah (Caution), 47
DAL: Jacobson (Caution), 60
POR: W. Johnson (Caution), 89
DAL: John (Caution), 90+2

Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Donovan Ricketts, D Ryan Miller, D Andrew Jean-Baptiste, D Pa Modou Kah (Futty Danso, 83), D Jack Jewsbury, M Diego Chara, M Diego Valeri, M Will Johnson ©, F Darlington Nagbe (Ben Zemanski, 74), F Ryan Johnson (Frederic Piquionne, 57), F Rodney Wallace

Substitutes Not Used: GK Milos Kocic, M Kalif Alhassan, M Michael Nanchoff, M Sal Zizzo

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (W. Johnson, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Wallace, 2); FOULS: 16 (Kah, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 7

DAL: GK Chris Seitz, D Jair Benitez, D Walker Zimmerman, D George John, D Zach Loyd (Bobby Warshaw, 83), M Je-Vaughn Watson (Ramon Nunez, 68), M Andrew Jacobson, M Jackson, M David Ferreira ©, F Fabian Castillo (Kenny Cooper, 77), F Blas Perez

Substitutes Not Used: GK Kyle Zobeck, D Stephen Keel, D London Woodberry, F Eric Hassli

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Jackson, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Perez, 3); FOULS: 14 (Ferreira, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Mark Boyko
4th Official: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 3,889
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Clear, 100 degrees

2013 US Open Cup Fourth Round: Portland Timbers blank Tampa Bay 2-0 for first Quarterfinal appearance

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Portland Timbers logoThe Portland Timbers advanced to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup for the first time with an easy 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies at Jeld-Wen Field. The Timbers will travel to Texas June 26 to face FC Dallas.

The Fourth Round game was not as close as the score would indicate with the Rowdies managing just three shots and the Timbers dominating long stretches of possession throughout.

Just two regular starters were in the line-up for Portland as Diego Valeri wore the captain’s armband for the first time and Andrew Jean-Baptiste played in central defense for the Timbers. Yet it was little used Michael Nanchoff who contributed to both goals in Portland’s workmanlike win.

The opener came in the ninth minute as a deflected Jose Valencia pass sailed forward to Nanchoff. The first-year Timbers midfielder hit a shot on the volley across goal, just beyond the reach of Rowdies goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. The diminutive Nanchoff has been a key member of Portland’s reserve team but the goal was his first in a competitive match with the Timbers.

While Tampa Bay was able to string together several passes, their attacking sequences never quite led to much of a threat in the first half. Raphael Cox took the Rowdies’ only shot of the half, though former Timber Keith Savage and Luke Mulholland contributed to play that kept Tampa Bay in the game throughout the half.

The second half was more lively for both teams though it was again the Timbers who struck early in the half. Nanchoff’s 55th minute free kick was flicked across the box by Third Round hero Frederic Piquionne and poked into goal by substitute Jack Jewsbury. The goal was the first of the season for Jewsbury and gave Portland a comfortable advantage for most of the rest of the half.

Tampa Bay countered by inserting hulking forward Amani Walker in the hopes of finding a goal to get the visitors back into the game. Instead it was Valencia who forced multiple diving saves by Restrepo midway through the second half and had a headed goal called back for offside in the 71st minute. The 21-year-old Timbers forward gave Rowdies captain Frankie Fanfilippo all he could handle in defense, consistently making runs and playing physically up top after Piquionne exited in the 57th minute.

The Rowdies’ cross-country trip nearly got an exciting finish to a fairly mundane game when Mulholland slammed a 79th minute free kick off the crossbar. His shot had Milos Kocic well beaten but angled just high enough to ricochet away from any danger to the Timbers’ defense and effectively end Tampa Bay’s threat of a late comeback.

On a night when two MLS clubs could not top second and third tier opponents, Portland glided through its Fourth Round encounter and set up a high profile match-up with FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday June 26. The game will be the second between the two clubs in eleven days as Portland hosts Dallas this weekend in league play.

Fourth Round :: Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 :: 2 Portland Timbers

June 12 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland OR

Scoring Summary:

POR: Michael Nanchoff (Jose Valencia) 9

POR: Jack Jewsbury (Frederic Piquionne, Michael Nanchoff) 55

Cautions:

TB: Georgi Hristov 43, Jay Needham 45+, Georgi Hristov 89

POR: None

Ejections:

POR: Georgi Hristov (second yellow) 89

Lineups:

Tampa Bay: GK Diego Restrepo, D Stuart Campbell, D Jay Needham, D Frankie Sanfilippo ©, D Arango, M Raphael Cox (Amani Walker, 67), M Shane Hill, M Keith Savage, M Luke Mulholland, F Mike Ambersley (Devin Del Do, 88), F Georgi Hristov… Substitutes Not Used: GK Andrew Fontein, D Thurstan Johnston, M Kyle Clinton, M Evans Frimpong

Portland: GK Milos Kocic, D Sal Zizzo, D Rauwshan McKenzie, D Andrew Jean-Baptiste, D Ryan Miller, M Diego Valeri © (Jack Jewsbury, 45), M Ben Zemanski, M Michael Nanchoff, F Kalif Alhassan (Steven Evans, 76), F Frederic Piquionne (Darlington Nagbe, 57), F Jose Valencia… Substitutes Not Used: GK Jake Gleeson, M Diego Chara, M Mobi Fehr, F Sebastián Rincón

#USOC100

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Frédéric Piquionne’s four goals earn Portland Timbers striker Player of the Round

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Frédéric Piquionne needed just two minutes to make his mark on the Third Round of the US Open Cup. It turned out he left a rather large mark not only on the round but the tournament and Portland Timbers history, scoring three more times in the first half of a 5-1 demolition of Wilmington Hammerheads at Jeld-Wen Field on May 29. That performance was enough to garner him TheCup.us Player of the Round for the 34-year-old forward and send Portland to the Fourth Round for the first time since 2005.

The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Piquionne beat out Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and Orlando City forward Dom Dwyer for the honor.

Piquionne’s opener came from a Will Johnson corner, giving the Timbers an early lead and a chance to employ Caleb Porter’s high-pressure system on the overmatched Hammerheads. That pressure led to Piquionne’s second just fifteen minutes later, as he headed in defender Michael Harrington’s cross in the 17th minute.

The former Premier League forward netted his hat-trick using his feet for the first time, artfully executing a one-two with Kalif Alhassan. Retrieving the ball from a soft lob into the box and placing it into the far corner for a 3-0 lead, the 34th minute goal provided the first Timbers hat-trick in a competitive match since Bright Dike’s Second Round feat against Kitsap Pumas in 2010.

Johnson was again the provider for Piquionne in first half injury time, this time from a free kick. Piquionne was first to the ball into the middle of the box, nodding it past Wilmington goalkeeper Tony Fernandez. Though the four goals were the second such output in this US Open Cup, with Seattle Sounders U23s forward David Geno accomplishing the same feat in the First Round, it was the first four-goal game by a Timbers player since McKinley Tennyson on August 13, 2002. Geno and Piquionne remain the only two players in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) to score four goals in the first half. They join Paulo Jr. as the only players to score four goals in a single period of play. Paulo Jr. scored four in the second extra time period in a 5-1 First Round win for Miami FC (now Fort Lauderdale Strikers) over the Central Florida Kraze (now Orlando City U-23s) in 2010.

The Timbers will host Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday June 12 at Jeld-Wen Field with a spot in the Quarterfinals on the line. Piquionne, who recorded two assists over the weekend in Chicago, could be rested against the Rowdies given Portland’s busy schedule and the absence of Ryan Johnson who is with Jamaica for World Cup qualifiers.

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Portland’s Piquionne makes history with four goals in Timbers’ 5-1 win over Wilmington

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Portland Timbers forward Frederic Piquionne (10) celebrates his third goal of the match at JELD-WEN Field on May 29, 2013. Photos: Craig Mitchelldyer | Portland Timbers

Four first half goals from Frédéric Piquionne were more than enough to send the Portland Timbers past the Wilmington Hammerheads at Jeld-Wen Field. The 5-1 scoreline was utterly representative of just how much better the Timbers were than their USL Pro opponents on Wednesday night.

Portland’s line-up featured ten players with starting experience or significant first team minutes including captain Will Johnson, Darlington Nagbe and Michael Harrington. Yet it was Piquionne who played the starring role for the Timbers in an explosive first half.

The 34-year old striker scored his first goal of the season in the second minute, heading in a Will Johnson corner to set the pace for a record-setting night. With a rare early lead, Caleb Porter’s high-pressure system was unleashed, wreaking havoc on Wilmington’s attempts to build possession. Piquionne nodded in his second goal in the 17th minute, this time from a Harrington cross, to break the game open for the home side.

Wilmington, travel-fatigued from playing in Texas in the Second Round and twice in Florida over the weekend in league play, was not without quality chances, however, as defender Daniel Steres hit a nice volley just wide of the far post in the 27th minute and Kyle Greig twice came close to scoring from close range late in the half. Yet the up-field pressure from Nagbe and José Valencia was simply too much for most of the Hammerheads’ half.

Kalif Alhassan chipped a pass into the box on 34 minutes, providing Piquionne with a chance to score with his feet and complete his hat-trick in just three shots. The shot skipped past Tony Hernandez, providing the first Timbers hat-trick of the MLS era in a competitive match. Following Greig’s two chances, Piquionne finished the half in style, heading in a Johnson free kick to put Portland ahead 4-0 in injury time.

The Timbers Army cheer after Futty Danso's goal in the second half at JELD-WEN Field on May 29, 2013. Over 10,000 fans attending the midweek Open Cup match. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer | Portland Timbers

The second half was much more competitive as Wilmington worked back into the game, particularly through Shawn Nicklaw and first half substitute Cody Arnoux. Later in the half, Steven Perry provided additional offensive options and nearly scored on a 79th minute header.

Yet the Hammerheads’ goal came from midfielder Paul Nicholson in the 62nd minute, a brilliant overhead kick that was one of the finer goals of the Open Cup so far this season. Nicholson flipped the ball to himself after it deflected to him in the box, before scissor-kicking the ball into the top left corner from the right side of goal. Though it did not do much for Wilmington’s odds of advancing, the goal was well deserved both for the individual and the club.

Miloš Kocić recorded several key saves over the game’s final 20 minutes to maintain the wide margin, particularly on Perry’s angled header. Futty Danso finished the night’s scoring with a header of his own in the 73rd minute, giving Johnson his third assist and providing the final scoreline.

Five goals represent the most a Timbers team has ever scored in an Open Cup match, topping a 4-1 victory in 2010 against Kitsap Pumas. Piquionne’s four goals mark only the second time a Portland player has achieved that feat, and the first since McKinley Tennyson’s four-goal league game in 2002. He joined a list of 11 players to accomplish the feat in the Modern Pro Era (1995-present) and joins Seattle Sounders U23 striker David Geno (first half v Doxa Italia – 2013, First Round) and Fort Lauderdale Strikers (nee Miami FC) forward Paulo Jr (overtime v Central Florida – 2010, First Round) as only players in MPE to score all four in one period of play.

Portland advances to host upset winners Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Fourth Round on Wednesday June 12 at Jeld-Wen Field.

Scoring Summary

POR: Frederic Piquionne (Will Johnson) 2
POR: Frederic Piquionne (Michael Harrington) 17
POR: Frederic Piquionne (Kalif Alhassan) 34
POR: Frederic Piquionne (Will Johnson) 45+2
WIL: Paul Nicholson 61
POR: Futty Danso (Will Johnson) 73

Misconduct Summary

WIL: Parratt (caution) 6
WIL: Wallace (caution) 58
WIL: Nicklaw (caution) 67

Lineups & Stats

POR: GK Kocic, D Miller, D Jean-Baptiste, D Danso, D Harrington (McKenzie, 74), M Zemanski, M Nagbe (Zizzo, 45), M Johnson, W. ©, F Valencia, F Piquionne (Rincón, 45), F Alhassan

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Fehr, M Evans, M Valeri

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Piquionne, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Piquionne, 4); FOULS: 9 (Valencia, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 7

WIL: GK Hernandez, D Daly (Taylor, 64), D Steres, D Utterson, D Wallace, M Evans, M Parratt (Arnoux, 25), M Nicholson, M Nicklaw, F Greig (Perry, 74), F Elenio

Substitutes Not Used: M Briggs

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Nicholson, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Nicholson, 3); FOULS: 13 (Four players, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 1

Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
 Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Andrew Marihart
 4th Official: Ronald Lagraff

Attendance: 10,924

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 62 degrees

2012 US Open Cup Round 3: Cal FC gets world’s attention with historic upset of Portland Timbers

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Cal FC celebrate their goal in the first period of extra time. Photo: L.M. Parr | Portland Timbers

By the end of the 120 minutes (1:15 am ET), a team that nobody knew about two weeks ago was trending worldwide on Twitter. Cal FC became not only the first US Adult Soccer Association team to score against a Major League Soccer opponent, but became the first to advance via a victory, downing the Portland Timbers, 1-0 in overtime, on the road at Jeld-Wen Field Wednesday evening in the Third Round of the US Open Cup.

“I don’t remember anything, I just know that I chipped it,” said ArturAghasyan, beaming as he tried to recount his famous goal for Cal FC. The California-based amateur side, coached by Eric Wynalda, are unlikely to ever forget what transpired on Wednesday night, May 30, 2012. Though it took 120 minutes and withstanding forty-three Portland Timbers shots, Cal FC emerged victorious.

Perhaps the signs were available early as Jesus Gonzalez forced a fingertip save from Troy Perkins in the 6th minute. Yet it was the Timbers who were the aggressors in the early going, clearly trying to create a comfortable space on the shore sheet. Pressing in defense and sending in myriad crosses, Portland certainly hassled Cal FC, but not enough to actually find that ever-elusive goal.

Meanwhile, Cal tried to play its game. “We love to categorize ourselves as a possession team. Which probably wasn’t the case tonight,” explained Wynalda afterward. As the young visitors tried to find time and space, the Timbers continued their assault on goalkeeper Darby Carrillo. KalifAlhassan, Brent Richards (twice) and Jorge Perlaza each missed shots or had them saved in a seven minute stretch after the hour. When Cal did finally break toward goal, in a fantastic interplay between Danny Barrera and Richard Manjivar, the former made one too many passes, seemingly taking Wynalda’s possession style a bit too far.

Portland’s misses got worse as the second half dragged on, each bringing more exasperated groans from the crowd of just over five thousand. Finally, the Timbers got a stroke of luck when Manjivar handled a Richards cross in the box, setting up a Kris Boyd penalty in the 80th minute. Which is precisely when the game turned on its head.

The Scottish Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, skied his spot kick, dropped his head and walked away from the North End amid a cascade of boos.Said Wynalda, “I was already thinking it wasn’t their night. But you don’t see that every day, a player like Kris Boyd missing a penalty kick.”Several late chances went begging for Portland and the two weary sides entered overtime.

Boyd subbed off after an injury and the Timbers shifted players to accommodate the final available change. With cramps setting in, and the team constantly rotating players to keep all eleven players as spry as possible, Cal FC seemed on the verge of simply wearing out before all 120 minutes were done. Then the impossible happened.

In the 95th minute, Aghasyan streaked down the middle of the field, easily beating a lopsided offside trap, collected a well placed through ball and calmly chipped Perkins. As his teammates mobbed him in the northeast corner of the stadium, the crowd fell silent – a rarity in a ground known for its boisterous atmosphere. While the pause was only momentary, the gravity of the goal was clear.

Somewhere in that celebration is the goalscorer, and TheCup.us Player of the Round, Artur Aghasyan. Photo: Ethan Erickson | Portland Timbers

As the first period of overtime ended and the second began, Portland furiously poured players forward in search of an equalizer. Freddie Braun, Jack Jewsbury, Perlaza, Alhassan and Richards all had clear chances to beat Carrillo, yet none could do better than send the ball directly into the goalkeeper’s waiting gloves. Carrillo’s save on Perlaza’s 109th minute header was his best of a night filled with close calls.

With Portland nearing a calamitous result, Cal FC poked the ball clear for several counter attacks late in the second overtime. Paulo Ferreira-Mendez’s header beat Perkins but also – barely – the left post in the 110th. Aghasyan then nearly added a second goal when his shot skimmed the crossbar from an acute angle in the 114th.

After Perlaza put one into the side netting, Darlington Nagbe curled a shot just wide of the right post and Alhassan sent one more soft cross into the box, Cal FC needed just one more stop to escape with the upset. Referee William Niccolls inexplicably allowed a bloody Jewsbury to received treatment and a change of shirt before Portland’s final attempt, a corner in the 120th minute. The amateurs cleared the ball, Niccolls blew his whistle and Cal FC left the field with one of the biggest upsets in US Open Cup history.

“One thing we should be very proud of is that Portland brought their team. That was their guys…Once we saw the line-up, everything settled in for our guys. This is what we wanted,” Wynalda added. Indeed, the starting XI for the Timbers was the best possible line-up, given several injuries and absences due to international duty.

That will make the loss linger even longer in Portland as the Timbers miss out on a chance to host rivals Seattle Sounders in the fourth round and will have eighteen days without a game to figure out how exactly they lost at home to Cal FC.

HIGHLIGHTS: CAL FC at PORTLAND TIMBERS

FULL MATCH REPLAY: CAL FC at PORTLAND TIMBERS

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE: JOHN SPENCER

POST-GAME INTERVIEW: ERIC WYNALDA

USASA Advancements vs Pro League Clubs
Bavarian SC 2000: 1-0 vs Reading Rage (third division – USL)
Bavarian SC 2007: 1-0 vs Cincinnati Kings (third division – USL)
Bridgeport Italians 1997: 3-2 vs Rhode Island Stingrays (third division – USL)
Cal FC 2012: 4-0 vs Wilmington Hammerheads (third division – USL)
Cal FC 2012: 1-0 AET vs Portland Timbers (first division – MLS)
CASL Elite 2002: 5-2 vs Carolina Dynamo (third division – USL)
Dallas Roma 2006: 1-0 vs Miami FC (second division – USL)
Dallas Roma 2006: 0-0 (4-2 pk) vs Chivas USA (first division – MLS)
Hollywood United 2008: 3-2 vs Portland Timbers (second division – USL)
Reggae Boyz 2005: 4-2 vs Cincinnati Kings (third division – USL)
San Jose Oaks 1996: 3-2 vs California Jaguars (third division – USL)
United German Hungarians 1999: 2-1 vs New Jersey Stallions (third division – USL)

MLS Eliminations by Amateur League Teams
Cal FC 2012: 1-0 AET vs Portland Timbers
Michigan Bucks 2012: 3-2 AET vs Chicago Fire
Michigan Bucks 2000: 1-0 vs New England Revolution
Chicago Sockers 2000: 0-0 (7-6 PK) vs Kansas City Wizards
Dallas Roma 2006: 0-0 (4-2 PK) vs Chivas USA

MLS versus USASA Clubs
2012: Portland Timbers 0-1 AET Cal FC
2006: Chivas USASA 0-0 (2-4 PK) Dallas Roma
2006: LA Galaxy 2-0 Dallas Roma
2000: Tampa Bay Mutiny 1-0 ASDET Uruguay SC
2001: Miami Fusion 4-0 Uruguay SC

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Ike Opara’s late winner breaks Portland hearts, sends Earthquakes to final round

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Ike Opara of the San Jose Earthquakes challenges for the ball with Adam Moffat of the Portland Timbers during Tuesday’s US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer | Portland Timbers

The faithful Portland Timbers fans at JELD-WEN Field witnessed their US Open Cup hopes crash with a thud as a header from San Jose striker Ike Opara in the 120th minute gave the Earthquakes a 1-0 victory after extra time. This came after 120 minutes of action that could be reminiscent of a play. It started slowly, threw in a few twists and turns, included plenty of drama, and built to a crescendo with Opara putting on the climactic act at the finish.

Both teams came out slow to start the match. This was to be reasonably expected, as Portland hosted league stalwart Real Salt Lake just three days before, while San Jose was coming off a cross-country trip from Philadelphia. The Timbers fielded a mostly reserve squad, with the addition of starting goalkeeper Troy Perkins, having recently come back from injury. This gave the Earthquakes the early advantage, as they pressured Portland quickly.

The game would turn chippy soon enough, as the first yellow card was issued to the Earthquakes’ Brad Ring for shoving Portland’s Spencer Thompson in the 7th minute. It was a sign of things to come. San Jose would continue pressuring throughout the first half, including a chance for Ring in the 35th minute. He received the ball just outside the 18 yard box, but sent a side volley over the crossbar. Not to say the Timbers didn’t have chances of their own. In the 38th minute, Steve Purdy headed a corner kick towards goal, only to see it finger-tipped away by Earthquakes goalkeeper Andrew Weber.

The second half started with the Quakes coming back to life for a few minutes, but nothing would come of their efforts. Portland slowly turned the tables, and by the 60th minute had full control. At that point, Thompson received a chip inside the box, but couldn’t quite redirect the ball towards the net, sending it high and wide. Soon after began the fouling of Timbers player Sal Zizzo. Whether the fouls he suffered throughout the game were card-worthy or not, that depends on who you ask. The first yellow card earned for fouling Zizzo was shown to Ramiro Corrales in the 63rd minute.

The teams started to warm up more, as by the 75th minute, Ryan Johnson received a pass from Chris Wondolowski inside the box and shot, but Troy Perkins was there to make a great tip over the crossbar to keep the match scoreless. The final five minutes of regulation saw both teams become energized and created an exciting few minutes. A long blast from the Timbers’ Adam Moffat was knocked down by Weber in the 86th minute. Just a couple minutes later at the other end, Bobby Convey was on a breakaway for the Earthquakes. Timbers defender Freddie Braun saved the day by bolting back and stripping the ball away in an impressive slide tackle near the top of the box. As the game entered stoppage time, Zizzo drew a second yellow card, this time to Moffat for knocking him over. The teams could not break through in regulation, invoking extra time.

Nine minutes into extra time, Zizzo was fouled yet again, this time by Steven Lenhart. After getting knocked around all match, Zizzo didn’t take kindly to it, and retaliated. However, this time no card was issued. Lenhart would make waves again in the 104th minute as he knocked the ball into the net off a Quakes free kick to the left of the box utilizing his hand. He earned himself a yellow card for his efforts. The final yellow card of the match earned during the run of play was given to Timbers midfielder James Marcelin for taking down Lenhart from behind in the 117th minute.

As the game approached the end of extra time, the Quakes bore down and took care of business. With the ball bouncing in and out of the box, Sam Cronin crossed it back in to find Ike Opara, who headed it home in the 120th minute. He too, however, would earn a yellow card after removing his jersey in celebration. Portland would pressure with every second they had left, culminating with an effort by Thompson at the top of the box in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, which harmlessly sailed over the goal.

With the win, the San Jose Earthquakes improved their record in all US Open Cup-related matches against the Portland Timbers to 3-0 (also having defeated them in the tournament proper in 2004 and 2005 when the Timbers were members of the second division). They advance to the third qualifying round, where they are scheduled to host a “Win and You’re In” match against the Chicago Fire. The date, time, and location is still to be determined. The loss by the Timbers was their first at JELD-WEN Field this season, and they will not compete in the tournament proper for the first time since 2003.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes 1:0 (AET) Portland Timbers
May 3, 2011 – JELD-WEN Field (Portland, Ore.)
Attendance: 11,412

Scoring Summary
SJE: Ike Opara (Sam Cronin) – 120th minute

Misconduct Summary
SJE: Brad Ring (caution) – 7th minute
POR: Ryan Pore (caution) – 50th minute
SJE: Ramiro Corrales (caution) – 62nd minute
SJE: Sam Cronin (caution) – 80th minute
SJE: Ryan Johnson (caution) – 91st minute+
SJE: Steven Lenhart (caution) – 104th minute
POR: James Marcelin (caution) – 114th minute
SJE: Ike Opara (caution) – 120th minute

Lineups
Portland Timbers: Troy Perkins (GK), Freddie Braun, Kevin Goldthwaite (Mamadou Danso – 98th), David Horst, Steve Purdy, Sal Zizzo (Darlington Nagbe – 111th), James Marcelin, Adam Moffat, Rodrigo Lopez (Jeremy Hall – 110th), Ryan Pore, Spencer Thompson.

San Jose Earthquakes: Andrew Weber, Steven Beitashour, Bobby Burling, Ike Opara, Ramiro Corrales, Khari Stephenson (Steven Lenhart – 83rd), Sam Cronin, Brad Ring, Bobby Convey (Justin Morrow – 94th), Ryan Johnson (Ellis McLoughlin – 111th), Chris Wondolowski.

Statistics
SJE: Shots: 9; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 3; Fouls: 23; Offsides: 0; Corners: 7.
POR: Shots: 8; Shots on Goal: 3; Saves: 3; Fouls: 22; Offsides: 2; Corners: 6.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Portland Timbers get first MLS win, topple 10-man Chivas USA

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Jack Jewsbury celebrates with his teammates after the Portland Timber’s 2-0 win over Chivas USA in US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com

It was an agonizingly long wait as it took two games and 84 minutes for the Major League Soccer Portland Timbers to effectively register their first official victory. The Timbers snared a 2-0 win over Chivas USA with two late goals from Jack Jewsbury and Eric Brunner at Merlo Field Tuesday evening in the opening round of MLS qualifying for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Chivas USA 0:2 Portland Timbers

SCORING SUMMARY
POR: Jack Jewsbury (Unassisted) – 84th
POR: Eric Brunner (Unassisted) – 86th
Portland advances to play at San Jose, date/time TBA

MLS qualifying schedule
VIDEO (PortlandTimbers.com)
Game highlights
Jack Jewsbury post-game interview

PHOTOS from Prost Amerika | RECAP

After suffering losses on the road to the MLS Champion Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC, the club’s path to its first win came in small steps. First was returning home, playing in the rain of the alternate venue at the University of Portland. Then it was getting a little help from the referees, who gave the club a man advantage just before halftime when the visitors saw Andrew Boyens sent off for a second yellow card in the 43rd minute.

Chivas USA managed the setback well in the second though, creating opportunities and keeping Portland largely at bay. When it seemed the California club, which reached the tournament’s semifinals a year ago despite finishing eighth in the league’s Western Conference, was going to break through in the 83rd minute, the match instead broke in favor of the Timbers in a mad four minute frenzy.

A long ball over the top created a breakaway for Justin Braun in the 83rd minute when he collected the ball behind the Timbers’ defense and drove toward goal. Back-up goalkeeper Jake Gleeson charged outside the edge of the box and stuffed Braun’s attempt at close range, denying the visitor’s best opportunity of the night.

The Timbers caught Chivas USA off guard just seconds later at the other end when second half substitute Jack Jewsbury let loose a low shot from 35 yards out that skipped on the wet grass and found its way into the lower left corner through the outstretched hands of Dan Kennedy.

Braun nearly answered back for Chivas USA a minute later, turning with the ball at the edge of the box only to see it poked away at the last second.

Eric Brunner of the Portland Timbers celebrates his goal vs Chivas USA in the 86th minute. Photo: Prost Amerika | Photo: Prost Amerika | Gary Sheldon 2011 | Check out the slideshow
Eric Brunner of the Portland Timbers celebrates his goal against Chivas USA in the 86th minute in the US Open Cup qualifying tournament . Photo: Gary Sheldon | Check out the full gallery at ProstAmerika.com

The missed chance proved critical. With the crowd still electrified from the club’s first-ever lead as an MLS team, a loose ball in the box was put away from eight yards by defender Eric Brunner in the 87th to secure the win. The play was created from a corner Brunner headed into a falling Chivas USA defender, ricocheting directly back to him for the second attempt.

The Timbers advance to the second round of the league’s US Open Cup qualifying tournament. They will travel to play the San Jose Earthquakes – details to be determined. It was the first time Chivas USA had to go through the qualification process adopted in 2007. The loss marks the first time the club failed to qualify for the tournament since their debut in 2005.

The match started off with the home club buzzing about the Chivas USA goal. Kenny Cooper put a header over the goal in the first half-minute of play. He had another chance in the sixth minute when a long ball up the middle found him shoulder-to-shoulder with a defender 30 yards out, but he was unable to gain full control for a chance at goal.

Jorge Perlaza kept the visitors busy with his work most of the first half. In the 10th minute he darted toward goal on the left side, but Kennedy came out of the box to break it up. Three minutes later he tried to turn with the ball 25 yards out, but was knocked off the ball for a free kick. In the 28th, he got the ball on the right side and drove toward goal before sending the ball wide left.

Andrew Boyens of Chivas USA walks off the field after being shown a second yellow card against the Portland Timbers in the 42nd minute of a US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Prost Amerika | Gary Sheldon 2011 | Check out the slideshow
Andrew Boyens of Chivas USA walks off the field after being shown a second yellow card against the Portland Timbers in the 42nd minute of a US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com

Chivas USA had a few sniffs at the Timbers goal in the first half, mostly courtesy of the play of Marcos Mondaini. His best chance came in the 34th minute on an excellent through ball that put him alone in the box only to see his shot from 16 knocked away by the rookie Timbers netminder. Four minutes later Braun made a long run down the middle of the pitch before dishing it off to Mondaini, whose shot with a defender on his inside shoulder from just inside the left corner of the box was also denied.

Just prior to the game-changing red card to Boyens, a 42nd minute free kick 35 yards out led to a fantastic shot. Peter Lowry rolled the dead ball about 12 yards to his left for a wide open Rodney Wallace, who ripped a line-drive rifle that zipped just wide of the left upper corner.

Despite playing a man down, the visitors came out and played well in the second half before a series of tough tackles around the hour mark seemed to show the unraveling that was to come. An ensuing free kick from one foul led to a 30 yard rocket from Cooper that tested Kennedy, who was forced to knock the wet ball away haphazardly in the 62nd minute.

Six minutes later Cooper nearly set up the opening marker when he tried to turn and shoot inside the box. Seeing he couldn’t get the shot off, he dished it back to Lowry, who put his uncontested shot over the goal from 19 yards. And just moments before the madness, Perlaza also nearly created the first strike when he stole the ball in the right corner and sent it to Jeremy Hall, who delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank into the area only to see hit headed away.

The Portland Timbers now travel to play the New England Revolution in league play Saturday, April 2 while Chivas USA takes to the road for the first time this season to face Toronto FC earlier in the day.

2011 US Open Cup qualifying (MLS)
Chivas USA 0:2 Portland Timbers
March 29, 2011 – Merlo Field in Portland, Ore.

Scoring Summary
POR: Jack Jewsbury (Unassisted) – 84th minute
POR: Eric Brunner (Unassisted) – 86th minute

Misconduct Summary
CHV: Mondaini (Yellow), 14
CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 35
CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 43
CHV: Boyens (Red), 43
CHV: Braun (Yellow), 49
POR: Purdy (Yellow), 74
POR: Hall (Yellow), 89

Lineups:

Portland — GK Gleeson, D Wallace, D Brunner, D Horst, D Purdy, M Alhassan, M Marcelin, M Lowry (Jewsbury, 71), M Pore (Hall, 65), F Cooper, F Perlaza
Substitutes Not Used: GK Guppy, D Goldthwaite, D Taylor, M Braun, M Nagbe

Chivas USA — GK Kennedy, D Pearce, D Zemanski (Bowen, 89), D Boyens, D Owusu (Jazic, 63), M Lahoud, M LaBrocca©, M Mendoza (Flores, 46), F Mondaini, F Braun, F Estupiñan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Thornton, GK Arias, M Trujillo, M Mayen

Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Desmond Miller
4th Official: Ronald Lagraff
Attendance: 5,061
Weather: Rain, 50 degrees

MLS US Open Cup qualifying schedule

Automatic qualifiers: Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC

First Round
(8) Chivas USA 0:2 (10) Portland Timbers
Tuesday, March 29 – 10 p.m. EST | Merlo Field (Univ. of Portland) in Portland, Ore.

(7) Philadelphia at (9) DC United
April 6, 7:30 p.m. | Maryland Soccerplex (Germantown, Md.)

Second Round

(10) Portland Timbers at (2) San Jose Earthquakes
Date/Location TBA

(6) New England at DC United/Philadelphia
Date/Location TBA

(1) Colorado Rapids at (4) Chicago Fire
March 30, 7:30 p.m. EST – Shea Stadium (Bradley Univ.) in Peoria, Ill.
Click here for a preview / live blog

(3) Sporting Kansas City at (5) Houston Dynamo
April 6, 8 p.m. EST – Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Tx.

Third Round*
Colorado/Chicago winner at Portland/San Jose winner
DC United/Philadelphia/New England winner at KC/Houston winner

*Winner of each third round game qualify for the 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2010 US Open Cup Third Round: Sounders outlast Timbers in PKs to move on to quarterfinals

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It took 120-plus minutes and penalty kicks, but the Seattle Sounders remained on track to defend their U.S. Open Cup.

And it was only fitting that an old Portland Timbers nemesis from back in the USL days, Sounders defender Zach Scott, was the one to seal the deal in this the greatest of Northwest derbies that will only intensify when both clubs are in MLS next year and beyond.

15,422 fans showed up for Wednesday's third round match, falling just short of last year's record-setting total. Photo: David Jacobson | Portland Timbers

Scott, the Sounders’ fifth PK shooter, converted to give the Rave Green a 2-1 win (4-3 on penalties), propelling the Sounders into the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy in Seattle next week.  The match is set for July 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila.

Sounders FC, last year’s Open Cup champion in its inaugural season, got a stiff challenge from the host Timbers before 15,422 at PGE Park, a season-high attendance for a game in the Rose City. But Seattle held on late though the Timbers of USSF Division 2 were more the aggressors on offense.

The Timbers failed to avenge a home loss to the Sounders on July 1, 2009, also a U.S. Open Cup third-round game, and couldn’t take advantage of a one-man advantage during the overtime periods.

Seattle scored early to take a 1-0 lead, forward Nate Jaqua heading in a centering pass from Sanna Nyassi in the 13th minute. Jaqua was playing in only his second game of the season after a short substitute stint in Sounders FC’s loss at Philadelphia Sunday.

But the Timbers went on the attack, as forwards Ryan Pore and Bright Dike put pressure on the Sounders’ defense time after time.

Pore, a former trialist with Seattle during its inaugural season, set up Dike, a former first-round pick of the Columbus Crew in this year’s MLS Superdraft, for the equalizer in the 38th minute. Pore gathered in a failed clearance from Sounders defender Tyson Wahl and fed Dike, whose shot squirted under goalkeeper Kasey Keller’s arms and into the net.

Seattle opened with only two regular starters after playing in a match just three days earlier. They were Keller and defender James Riley. But Sounders coach Sigi Schmid showed a desire to win when he inserted fleet midfielder Steve Zakuani and scoring striker Fredy Montero into the match in the second half.

The game went into extra-time periods, and Sounders defender Taylor Graham was sent off with a second yellow card in the 101st minute when he fouled Dike just outside the box.

In the penalty-kick round, Keller saved a pair of shots, one from Pore, and Nate Sturgis, Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero converted their PKs for Seattle.

Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Thompson, D Danso, D Smith, D Joy, M Nimo (Lopez, 69), M McManus, M Marcelin (Keita, 109), M Suzuki (DeMartin 85), F Pore, F Dike

SEA: GK Keller, D Riley, D Scott, D Graham, D Wahl, M Nyassi, M Sturgis, M Seamon (Ianni, 102), M Montano (Zakuani, 69), F Levesque, F Jaqua (Montero, 65)

Scoring Summary:
SEA: Jaqua (Nyassi), 13
POR: Dike (Pore), 38

PK Shootout Summary:
POR: Pore – Save (0-0)
SEA: Sturgis – Goal (0-1)
POR: DeMartin – Goal (1-1)
SEA: Zakuani – Goal (1-2)
POR: Danso – Goal (2-2)
SEA: Montero – Goal (2-3)
POR: Smith – Save (2-3)
SEA: Ianni – Miss (2-3)
POR: Lopez – Goal (3-3)
SEA: Scott – Goal (3-4)

HIGHLIGHTS / POST-GAME

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