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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Fall 3-2 to Los Angeles FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal

July 19, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Los Angeles - The Portland Timbers were eliminated from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after falling 3-2 to Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinal before 17,898 fans at Banc of California Stadium on Wednesday night. Defenders Julio Cascante and Vytas each scored in the match, notching their first goals of the season, as the Timbers sustained their first defeat since April 8 in matches across all competitions.

Recent form

Wednesday's 3-2 loss marked Portland's first defeat in just over three months, ending a 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions dating back to April 8. Heading into Saturday's league game against the Montreal Impact, the Timbers are still riding a 12-game unbeaten streak in regular-season action, which ranks as the longest active streak in the league.

U.S. Open Cup play

Wednesday's game signified Portland's 30th (16-14) match in the U.S. Open Cup since 2004 and its first against LAFC in the annual competition. The match marked the third time Portland has competed in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, previously qualifying for the quarterfinal in the 2013 and 2014 campaigns, respectively.

Key plays

Portland created two strong chances in quick succession when midfielder Sebastián Blanco slipped the ball in a dangerous area to forward Dairon Asprilla, who blasted a strong effort that forced a strong safe from goalkeeper Tyler Miller. Reacting to the rebound, Asprilla hit another well-struck effort that forced another difficult, reactive save from the goalkeeper in the 18th minute.

The home side took the lead toward the end of the first half when midfielder Carlos Vela forced an own goal with a dangerous ball into the box in the 33rd minute.

LAFC doubled its lead just five minutes later when Vela pounced on a loose ball inside the box, before curling a shot into the far bottom corner in the 38th minute.

The Timbers cut into LAFC's lead deep in stoppage time in the first half when a dangerous set piece from midfielder David Guzmán found defender Julio Cascante unmarked at the back post, with the defender nodding home the ball from close range.

Early in the second half, LAFC extended its lead in the 51st minute when forward Marco Urena redirected defender Jordan Harvey's strike with a tap-in effort in the 51st minute of play.

One minute later, Portland scored a second goal when Vytas scored his first goal of the season, burying a pass from Asprilla from a tough angle in the 52nd minute. Running onto Asprilla's low pass, Vytas produced a well-placed attempt to beat Miller at the near post to get the Timbers within a goal at 3-2.

Portland came close to equalizing in the 59th minute after clever build-up play allowed space for a cross into the box that found Asprilla running at the back post, with the striker just missing the target with his header.

Moments later, Asprilla had another chance to score when defender Zarek Valentin's pass in between the lines released the striker in behind the defense. Taking a touch past his marker, Asprilla blasted a strong left footed effort high of the far corner.

The Timbers came close to equalizing with two minutes remaining in the game when midfielder Cristhian Paredes played a deep cross to midfielder Diego Valeri, who just missed the target with his close-range header.

Notes:

Julio Cascante scored his first goal as a member of the Portland Timbers.

Vytas scored his first goal in 2018 and his second with the Timbers, having previously scored against Seattle Sounders FC in 2016.

With both goals, the Timbers have had 37 different goal scorers in U.S. Open Cup play across all eras in club history.

David Guzmán tallied his first assist of the season, making his first appearance with the Timbers since playing for Costa Rica in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Dairon Asprilla tallied an assist, becoming the first Timbers player to have a goal and an assist in the same year in U.S. Open Cup play since Rodney Wallace in 2016.

The match was the 30th U.S. Open Cup match played by the Timbers across all eras of the club.

The Timbers played their second consecutive match at Banc of California Stadium. It is the first time in the team's MLS era that they have played consecutive matches at the same away stadium.

Next game

Next up, the Timbers will play host to the Montreal Impact in league play on Saturday. Beginning at 8 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday's match against Montreal will be broadcast live on FOX 12 PLUS (KPDX) with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers vs. Los Angles FC (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal)

July 18, 2018 - Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Timbers 1 1 2

Los Angeles FC 2 1 3

Scoring Summary:

LAFC: Own goal, 33

LAFC: Vela (Zimmerman), 38

POR: Cascante (Guzmán), 45+2

LAFC: Urena (Harvey), 51

POR: Vytas (Asprilla), 52

Misconduct Summary:

LAFC: Harvey (Caution), 10

POR: Vytas (Caution), 31

POR: Blanco (Caution), 44

LAFC: Nguyen (Caution), 57

POR: Valentin (Caution), 67

POR: Guzmán (Caution), 83

POR: Cascante (Caution), 90+3

Lineups:

POR: GK Attinella, D Valentin (Olum, 72), D Cascante, D Tuiloma (Valeri, 80), D Vytas, M Paredes, M Guzmán, M Chara ©, M Polo, M Blanco (Armenteros, 70), F Asprilla

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Jadama, D Farfan, M Flores

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Blanco, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Armenteros, 2); FOULS: 17 (Three players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

LAFC: GK Miller, D Harvey, D Ciman, D Zimmerman, D Beitashour, M Kaye, M Nguyen (Feilhaber, 63), M Blessing, F Vela, F Urena (Diomande, 68), F Rossi (Jakovic, 90+2)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Lyon, D Blackmon, M Kovar, M Mallace

TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Six players tied, 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 15 (Kitchen, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

Referee: Ramy Touchan

Assistant Referees Michael Kampmeinert, Eduardo Jeff

4th Official: Mark Allatin

Attendance: 17,898

Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from July 19, 2018


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