MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Defeat Rowdies 2-0, Advance to Quarterfinal of U.S. Open Cup

Published on June 13, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Goals on either side of halftime by midfielders Michael Nanchoff and Jack Jewsbury guided the Portland Timbers to a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) at JELD-WEN Field on Wednesday night in the fourth round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Timbers will travel to face FC Dallas in the quarterfinal of the U.S. Open Cup at FC Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, June 26; kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (Pacific).

Nanchoff staked the Timbers to an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the ninth minute off a pass from forward Jose Valencia. A free kick from Nanchoff led to a Jewsbury's first goal of the season and a 2-0 Portland lead in the 55th minute. The Timbers' defense held the Rowdies to just three shots to record the shutout and help the club secure a place in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal for the first time in its history.

Nanchoff recorded one goal and one assist, Valencia and forward Frederic Piquionne each recorded assists and goalkeeper Milos Kocic registered one save in the shutout for the Timbers.

The Rowdies' run to the fourth round of the 2013 U.S. Open Cup was the deepest the club had reached in the tournament. Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo finished the match with five saves.

In the ninth minute, a ball played forward was headed down by midfielder Kalif Alhassan and Valencia played the ball out wide into the left channel just outside the box. Nanchoff caught up with the ball along the left post and hit a well-placed shot off the bounce that got by the reach of Restrepo and found the inside of the right post for the early 1-0 lead.

Jewsbury, who entered the match as a halftime sub, lifted Portland to a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute. From the right side about 30 yards out, Nanchoff sent the ball toward the far side of the goal and Piquionne looped a headed pass back into the six-yard box. Jewsbury buried the ball into the back of the net with a sliding, right-footed shot from close range.

The Rowdies had a free kick by midfielder Luke Mulholland in the 79th minute from just beyond the penalty area strike the crossbar. Tampa Bay midfielder Keith Savage, who played for the second-division Timbers from 2009-10, forced Portland goalkeeper Milos Kocic into his only save of the night in the 71st minute.

Tampa Bay finished the final minutes of the match a man short following a second caution issued to forward Georgi Hristov in the 89th minute.

The Timbers play host to FC Dallas in a nationally televised Western Conference matchup on Saturday at JELD-WEN Field on ESPN; kickoff is 2 p.m. (Pacific). The match will also feature live radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Notes:

- The Timbers advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in the club's history. Portland had reached the fourth round of the tournament on two previous occasions in 2004 and 2005.

- The goal scored by midfielder Michael Nanchoff in the ninth minute is the fifth-quickest goal scored by the Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup in the club's history. Forward Frederic Piquionne scored the Timbers quickest goal in a U.S Open Cup match May 29, 2013, finding the back of the net in the second minute against Wilmington.

- Piquionne has recorded four goals and one assist over the Timbers' first two U.S. Open Cup matches. Over his last four games across all competitions, Piquionne has totaled four goals and four assists.

- The Timbers defense has allowed just one goal in its last six matches at JELD-WEN Field across all competitions. The one goal allowed in that span was scored by Wilmington Hammerheads midfielder Paul Nicholson in U.S. Open Cup play on May 29.

- The Timbers recorded their sixth shutout in U.S. Open Cup play in their history (across all eras).

- In the Starting XI for the Rowdies was midfielder Keith Savage, who played two seasons for the second-division Timbers from 2009-10.

- The history between the Timbers and Rowdies dates back to 1975 and the original North American Soccer League. The two clubs first met in Soccer Bowl '75, the league's championship match, and last met July 31, 2010, when both clubs were members of USSF Division-2 Pro League (second division).

- The Timbers are one of five MLS clubs to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal. The fourth-round match between the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew was postponed until Thursday due to inclement weather.

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