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 the lone goal for Portland – his fourth in the 2019 competition – while the Loons were paced by tallies from Darwin Quintero and Mason Toye.
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).
- MATCHCENTER: Stats
- MATCHCENTER: Boxscore and Chalkboard
Match Moments
7' - CHANCE (POR) - Forcing a turnover at midfield, Portland's Diego Chara charged forward down the middle before pushing a ball out to his right to teammate SebastÃan Blanco. Blanco fired a shot on frame that Minnesota goalkeeper Vito Mannone dove to his right to parry away.
10' - CHANCE (MIN) - On a Loons' free kick into the box, defender Michael Boxall headed a ball down but wide of the right post.
22' - PK GOAL (MIN) - Following a Minnesota free kick, referee Ismail Elfath whistled Portland's Claude Dielna for a handball in the box. Loons attacker Darwin Quintero stepped to the spot and scored his penalty kick to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
25' - CHANCE (POR) - On a Portland cross into the box, Minnesota defender Romain Metanire tried to head the ball out only to put it on frame and force goalkeeper Mannone to parry the ball over the bar.
45+2' - GOAL (POR) - Moments before halftime, Portland tied the game as Timbers defender Jorge Moreira ran down a loose ball, curled it into forward Jeremy Ebobisse at the top of the box. Ebobisse one-touched it on the volley to an open Brian Fernandez who settled the ball and then hit it past Mannone to even the score at 1-1.
49' - CHANCE (POR) - Dairon Asprilla attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick on a Timbers cross in the box that was deflected away for a corner.
52' - CHANCE (POR) - Blanco received a pass from Ebobisse near the edge of the 18-yard box and hit a knuckingly shot that Mannone punched away for a corner.
54' - CHANCE (MIN) - Minnesota crossed the ball into midfielder Kevin Molino atop the six. He flashed his header wide of the right post.
59' - CHANCE (POR) - Blanco, coming down the middle, pinged a 20-yard pass to Asprilla on the left wing. Asprilla wend down the left channel, beat his defender and hit a hard shot that Mannone dove to his left to save.
64' - GOAL (MIN) - A long ball over the top from Minnesota's Molino found Mason Toye on the break. He carried in and slotted home a goal to make it 2-1 for the Loons.
68' - SAVE (POR) - Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark kept Portland in the game when he alertly saved a snap-down header from Minnesota's Robin Lod.
81' - CHANCE (POR) - Working the right sideline, Moreira hit a cross into Fernandez but his glancing header was over the bar.
90+4' - CHANCE (POR) - Portland nearly found the equalizer when a Blanco cross into the box was fumbled by Mannone, bounced off Diego Valeri inside the six-yard box, then off the right post and knocked off the line for a corner.
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Portland return to MLS regular-season play Saturday when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park (8pm PT, FOX 12 PLUS (KPDX)).
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 LorÃa
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, 84 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
