Portland Timbers quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese
On the physical nature of the match…
“Part of the fact that we had to play twice in a matter of a few days [contributed to the physicality]. I think both teams wanted to win; both teams went the length of the field to battle, to try to get the result that could send us through, because we knew that we were so close to be able to get to the final. I think the intensity was high, and I thought it was a very good game.”
Overall thoughts on the game…
“We tried to go at it. We created chances, they created chances, and I think it was an open game. For me, I think it was good to see from my team. Some guys needed to be able to get minutes and important players also stepped on the field and they did a very good job. I think for the people who came to the stadium, they found a very entertaining match.”
Portland Timbers defender Vytas
On the physical nature of the match…
“Both games were very different. Many different players, different tactics – so I would say the two games were like day and night, we saw way more goals and way more open soccer tonight. Sunday was more defensive and about waiting on the counter. We were chasing, unfortunately, after an unlucky first goal. All the game we were chasing them down and tried to do our best to catch up, but it turned out to be too much.”
On the difference in Wednesday’s game compared to Sunday’s league match between the two teams…
“I think that the cup game is so different from an MLS game, so both teams know that this is just a one-game decider. We all just went in trying to win no matter what; no matter that we were playing an away game and that’s why there were so many goals. Both teams were trying to not play safe and get the victory, so I think it was a good game to watch, because there were many chances created. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to score more than two, because we had those good chances and they put three in.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri
On the takeaways from the match…
“The positive thing of today was that we played a good game as a team. We created a lot of chances in a stadium where it is not easy, against a team that is a very good team, but it is just a different tournament. We knew about it, that it was only one game, but we’re very disappointed in the result. The positive is that we left everything on the field, individually and collectively. We gave it everything, which is the point, and then you can manage the result.”
On the differences in the match compared to the recent league match against LAFC…
“I think it was a different game; a very different game. Obviously, the conditions of last game changed everything, because it was very hot, and then individually, I think they used their wingers very well today. Last game, they tried to use a better midfield, but in the second half today, we played a very good game and dominated them with the ball and with the position. We created a lot of chances, and they always had the benefit of the score. They were always up on the scoreboard, which helped them to manage the game, and physically to not spend energy and to save it. The last 10 minutes of the game, it wasn’t a game with all the time stopping, and that was the difference.”
Los Angeles FC quotes
Los Angeles FC head coach Bob Bradley
On Carlos Vela in a different role…
“There are different kind of games. We had less control tonight, we had less possession tonight, we had less passes tonight; but we’re dangerous. Some games we know we can tilt the bar that way, so we thought going into this game that having Latif [Blessing] on one side, Diego [Rossi] on the other, bringing Marcos [Ureña] back into the team, and then giving Carlos [Vela] a little bit of freedom. It made sense. But, I think there’s other games where we may choose to like we did in times against Columbus, like we did at times against Philadelphia, to see if we can string more passes together, move the ball around, and keep control. The good thing is that on different nights, we can have slightly different ways of going about it so, for tonight, I thought it was great."
On closing out games…
“It’s important. We felt like the guys on the field were doing a good job, so we waited and then, right around [the 90th minute], we felt that was the time for the last move and we have experienced players. Seeing Carlos [Vela], Dio [Adama Diomande], and Benny [Feilhaber] be smart about holding onto the ball and playing it into the corner a little bit, it’s a good way to finish the game. I think the guys know that we haven’t done that well enough so tonight is something that we feel good about.”
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye
On the emotions during the game…
“Yeah, there was a lot on the line tonight. A game like this people are going to get emotional and lose their head a little. I got a little chippy. I thought that the second half was going to be a battle and we were fortunate to get the third goal so early, but it was unfortunate that they came back and got the second.”
Los Angeles FC forward Marco Urena
On returning to LAFC…
“I’m really happy to finally be playing. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. I got injured in my first game. It was tough. I’m really happy about it and don’t have words to say about it. It means a lot to me; I feel the support from the guys.”
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.
