Sports stats

MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers' Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Run Comes to An End with 2-1 Loss to Minnesota United FC

August 8, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Portland Timbers' run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to a close Wednesday night, after falling 2-1 to Minnesota United FC in the semifinal at Allianz Field. Brian Fernandez scored his fourth goal in U.S. Open Cup competition.

U.S. Open Cup recap

In 34 U.S. Open Cup matches since entering the competition in 2004, the Timbers hold a record of 19-15. Leading into Wednesday's semifinal match, the Timbers registered road wins over Seattle Sounders FC and Los Angeles FC, and a 4-0 home victory over the LA Galaxy. Since beginning U.S. Open Cup competition on June 12, the Timbers are 8-3-2 in 13 matches played across all competitions. In seven Open Cup matches played under head coach Giovanni Savarese, the Timbers hold a record of 5-2, having reached the quarterfinal round in 2018 and the semifinal round in 2019. Wednesday's game marked the second time the Timbers advanced to the semifinal round of the tournament in the last seven years (2013, 2019).

Key plays

In seventh minute, Diego Chara forced a turnover and sped toward the 18-yard box. Chara played the ball to Sebastián Blanco, who cut onto his left foot on the edge of the box and fired a shot that forced Minnesota goalkeeper Vito Mannone into a diving save. One minute later, Dairon Asprilla's shot from distance missed to the left of the post.

Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute after Darwin Quintero converted his penalty kick attempt to the left side of the net.

In the 29th minute, Blanco passed the ball to Jeremy Ebobisse on the edge of the box. Taking a touch onto his left foot, Ebobisse's shot from just inside the penalty area was saved by Mannone at the far post. Four minutes later, Blanco's long ball from a set-piece play found Asprilla inside the penalty area, but his leaping header missed in the 33rd minute.

Continuing on the attack, Jorge Moreira's cross from the right flank picked out Asprilla, but his jumping header flashed past the target in the 35th minute. Seven minutes later, Ebobisse ran onto a ball from Zarek Valentin, but his shot from outside the box missed over the target in the 42nd minute.

The Timbers equalized just before halftime after Moreira played a low pass to Ebobisse at the top of the box. Ebobisse's one-time pass fell to Fernandez, whose driven shot into the lower left corner of the net made it a 1-1 game in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

In the 50th minute, Ebobisse's header from Moreira's cross was caught by Mannone. Two minutes later, Blanco's shot from distance was tipped over the crossbar by Mannone. After Asprilla picked up the ball on the left wing, he cut on his right foot and struck a hard shot from the edge of the penalty area that forced Mannone into a diving save to his left in the 59th minute.

Minnesota United took a 2-1 lead against the run of play after Mason Toye received a long pass and curled his shot into the far corner of the net in the 64th minute.

In the 69th minute, second-half substitute Andrés Flores found Asprilla cutting towards the end line, but his shot missed past the far post. In the 81st minute, Moreira's cross into the six-yard box found Fernandez, but his flashing header missed inches over the crossbar.

Portland nearly tied the match in the 94th minute after a cross from Blanco was kicked away by Mannone into the path of Diego Valeri. The ball bounced off Valeri and hit the post before being cleared away by a Minnesota defender.

Notes:

Brian Fernandez scored his fourth goal in U.S. Open Cup play. Only Frederic Piquionne has score more career goals for the Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup.

Fernandez is the first Timbers player to score in three different U.S. Open Cup games in the same season.

Fernandez has now scored 12 goals in all competitions for Portland this season in his 15 matches for the club.

Jeremy Ebobisse notched the second assist of his U.S. Open Cup career.

Sebastián Blanco was credited with six chances created in the match. Only once in regular-season play has Blanco created more chances in a single match.

The game was the sixth match in club history in either the quarterfinals or semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. All six matches have been in the last six years and all six have been on the road.

Next game

Facing a quick turnaround, the Timbers return to league play to play host to Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park on Saturday, Aug. 10. Beginning at 8 p.m. (Pacific), the match features a local television broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS (KPDX) with local radio broadcasts on 1029 and 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup)

Aug. 7, 2019 - Allianz Field (St. Paul, Minn.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Minnesota United FC 1 1 2

Portland Timbers 1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

MIN: Quintero (penalty kick), 22

POR: Fernandez (Ebobisse), 45+2

MIN: Toye (Molino), 64

Misconduct Summary:

MIN: Gregus (caution), 25

MIN: Boxall (caution), 37

MIN: Opara (caution), 51

POR: Dielna (caution), 76

POR: Valentin (caution), 90+2

Lineups:

POR: GK Clark, D Moreira, D Mabiala, D Dielna (Conechny, 89), D Valentin, M Paredes (Flores, 66), M Chara ©, M Asprilla (Valeri, 72), M Blanco, M Ebobisse, F Fernandez

Substitutes Not Used: GK McIntosh, D Tuiloma, D Villafaña, M Loría

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Asprilla, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Blanco, Ebobisse, 2); FOULS: 18 (Chara, 4); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4

MIN: GK Mannone, D Métanire, D Opara, D Boxall, D Gasper, M Gregus, M Alonso ©, M Molino (Finlay, 76), M Quintero (Dotson, 72), M Lod, F Toye (Danladi, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Shuttleworth, D Kallman, D Omsberg, M Olum

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Three players tied, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Alonso, 2); FOULS: 11 (Toye, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Swartzel, Art Arustamyan

4th Official: Ismir Pekmic

Attendance: N/A

Weather: Partly cloudy, 847 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from August 8, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Portland Timbers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central