Leagues Cup Recap & Reaction: Portland Timbers vs. Club Leon

Zac McGraw: the King of Leon

The Portland Timbers opened their 2024 Leagues Cup campaign with a huge win over Liga MX side Club Leon by a margin of 2-1. Leon opened the scoring in the twelfth minute with a goal from Alan Medina, but a Zac McGraw brace (!!) off of two corner kicks lifted the Timbers to three points in their group.

Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

Welcome to MLS’ Summer Showcase

The match marked Portland’s entry into the second annual (I guess?) intercontinental competition. After Messi & friends made headlines for becoming the winners of the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023 with a win on penalties against Nashville in the final, competition featuring all 47 clubs from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX is back for round two, putting a halt to both domestic seasons for the next month.

If you’re unfamiliar with the format of the fledgling tournament, here’s how it works:

Leagues Cup is a standard three-team group stage → knockout round tournament, with this year’s final landing on August 25. Teams from both leagues are divided into three-club groups: seven in the East, and eight in the West. Each team plays two group stage games (which last from July 26 to August 6) and the two teams that finish at the top of their group advance into the single-game elimination round of the tournament.

Portland will host both of their group stage matches: tonight against Leon and Thursday against the Colorado Rapids (Colorado will host their match against Leon on Monday August 5).

Match Recap

Phil Neville switched up his starting XI, opting for a more defense-minded backline that featured Miller’s Kamal and Eric as fullbacks, and Zuparic and McGraw in the middle. Featuring four players that regularly play, or are able to deputize as, centerbacks, speed would ostensibly not be one of the backline’s stronger traits.

And that was exactly on display when Leon opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. Kamal Miller tried to press and was caught out of position on an out-ball from the Leon ‘keeper, and then McGraw missed on a header over the top. Nobody had the speed to cover, and Alan Medina fired off a rocket off the half-volley from distance to beat Maxime Crepeau and give the visitors the lead.

The goal was not undeserved — Portland was second best through most of the first half. The midfield was slow to every second ball, and several players looked a touch off the pace. Antony and (as much as it pains me to say it) Diego Chara were some of the players that stood out in a bad way in the opening frame.

Portland’s Liga MX opponents brought the intensity from the first minute. The speed with which the Leon defenders were able to close down Jonathan Rodriguez, Felipe Mora, and Evander gave Portland’s attack fits and prevented them from finding any kind of rhythm.

So where do you turn if your offense can’t find rhythm? Set pieces, of course. Portland — which has not scored a goal off a corner kick this entire season — equalized via McGraw off a corner kick in the 41st minute. The big man made up for his earlier defensive error by rising up to absolutely blast a towering header into the net off of Evander’s service.

The goal came after a stretch where Portland just managed to work themselves back into the game with a shade more possession and controlled passing sequences. The backline settled itself down, and closed down Leon’s attacking opportunities. And so, the two teams went into the locker rooms locked at one goal apiece.

Leon, as they did at the start of the game, came out feeling the more dangerous to start the second half. Only through some literal last-second blocks and some very clutch saves from Maxime Crepeau did the match remain level through the opening ten minutes of the second frame.

As the half wore on, Portland wrestled their way back into the game yet again. A wild sequence which saw Mora, Antony, and Eryk Williamson all have shots blocked in quick succession reminded Leon that the Timbers were indeed goal dangerous, despite the disparity in attempts on goal.

The introduction of players like Juan Mosquera, Claudio Bravo, and especially David Ayala really helped to provide some needed penetration and ball control to Portland’s attack. As the game entered its final minutes, it felt more and more that if either team was going to score, it would be the Timbers.

That feeling was reinforced as Mason Toye, newly acquired in a trade with CF Montreal, made his Timbers debut in the 82nd minute.

And then as the clock struck 90 minutes, that feeling was realized. McGraw once again rose up to beat his man off another sublime Evander delivery from a corner kick, and powered home another header right in front of the Timbers Army.

The Timbers — who, again, have not scored off a corner kick all season — had scored once more off of a corner kick.

Providence Park erupted, and a few minutes later the final whistle blew, giving the Timbers a big three points in their group, and an even bigger win over a quality Liga MX side.

Scoring Summary:

Portland: McGraw (41’, 90’)

Leon: A. Medina (12’)

Next Up:

Portland finishes up their Leagues Cup group stage on Thursday, August 1 when they host the Colorado Rapids. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.