Portland host Real Salt Lake for a chance to advance in the tournament.
After dispatching USL Championship side Orange County SC with a 3-1 result in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round on April 26, the Timbers welcome MLS Western Conference rival Real Salt Like to Providence Park on May 10. The next phase of the single-elimination tournament brings the Round of 32, the winner moving into the Round of 16.
• 🎟️ Tickets still available, kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm PT
• 📺 Follow live via the B/R App or in the B/R Football YouTube channel
Familiar Foe
Whether it be in the MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs, or even previous USOC encounters, the history with facing Real Salt Lake is rich in competition and energy.
Both clubs have gone head-to-head on numerous occasions, even eliminating one another en-route to respective MLS Cup appearances. In USOC play however, it's Real Salt Lake that has historically had the upper hand. Defeats in Utah in the 2013 semifinals and the 2015 Round of 16 sent the Timbers home empty-handed, eliminated from contention for the Cup.
Wednesday has to the potential to be different though, with RSL having to endure the pressure of possible USOC elimination against the Timbers for the first time at Providence Park. At home, Portland holds a 10-7-0 record in the tournament, dating back to 2004, making home-field advantage that much more impactful.
Fresh Faces Expected
It's a midweek matchup for two clubs coming off of draws in league play last weekend. Three days of rest and preparation is a short turnaround, and various line-up changes are expected.
For Portland, Wednesday evening provides another opportunity to blend youth with experience. Sebastian Blanco is expected to see more minutes as well as recent first-team signee Noel Caliskan. Players that typically have appeared in MLS matchday rosters that were absent this past weekend are also likely to see selection Wednesday night.
A loss against RSL means it's the end of the road in the competition, and a victory over the Utah club will put Portland through to the Round of 16. The draw for that phase is scheduled for May 11 at 11am PST (via B/R App or B/R Football Youtube Channel) with the matches to be scheduled for late May.
