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Portland Timbers

Timbers' U.S. Open Cup Run Ends with 2-0 Road Loss against Real Salt Lake

July 2, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


SANDY, Utah - The Portland Timbers were eliminated from the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after conceding two second-half goals in a Round of 16 match against Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake in front of 15,840 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night.

Despite holding Real Salt Lake to no shots on goal in a scoreless first half, the Timbers conceded the opening goal in the second half as Real Salt Lake took the lead after forward Sebastián Jaime fired a right-footed shot just inside the far left post following a through pass from midfielder Olmes Garcia in the 54th minute. Later in the second half, Real Salt Lake was awarded a penalty kick after midfielder Joao Plata went down just inside the penalty box. Midfielder Javier Morales converted the penalty kick in the 71st minute, just beating the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey with a low shot to the left side.

The Timbers saw an early goal rescinded after the referee judged forward Gastón Fernández to be in an offside position following a clever passing combination inside the box in the seventh minute. Forward Maximiliano Urruti nearly gave Portland the lead inside 15 minutes when his long-range effort forced Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to make a diving save in the 12th minute.

In the second half, midfielder Jack Jewsbury saw a close-range effort blocked in the 64th minute, while midfielder Diego Valeri sent a blistering free kick just over the crossbar in the 77th minute.

Despite the loss, Portland has won six of its last eight matches in all competitions since May 27, including five of its last six games in regular-season play.

The Timbers return to regular-season play against the San Jose Earthquakes in a nationally televised match on Sunday at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Pacific). Sunday's match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on LaGranD 93.5 FM.

Notes:

- Wednesday's match marked Portland's 24th U.S. Open Cup match since first reaching the tournament in 2004 as a second-division club. As an MLS side, the Timbers have earned a 6-4 record in Open Cup play since joining MLS in 2011.

- Portland played its second consecutive road match in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday after defeating Seattle Sounders FC in a fourth-round match on June 16 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash.

- Wednesday's match marked the sixth straight road match for the Timbers in U.S Open Cup play against MLS competition, dating back to the 2013 edition of the tournament.

- The game at Rio Tinto Stadium was Portland's 11th meeting in all competitions against Real Salt Lake since the start of the 2013 season. It was the second U.S. Open Cup match between the two clubs over that span as the sides also met in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- The Timbers are 6-3 on the road in U.S. Open Cup play since 2009.

- Defender Taylor Peay earned his first start of the season for Portland in all competitions on Wednesday against Real Salt Lake. Peay also made a substitute appearance in Portland's fourth-round victory against Seattle Sounders FC on June 16.

- Despite Wednesday's loss, Portland has won six of its last eight games in all competitions since May 27.

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