Match Recap: Portland Timbers at Tacoma Defiance

Escape from Starfire

The Portland Timbers defeated the Tacoma Defiance at Starfire Sports complex on Tuesday night by a score of 3-2 to advance to the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.

Portland took the lead in the first half via Zac McGraw, but two quick Defiance goals at the start of the second half gave the hosts the edge. A late equalizer from Gage Guerra gave Portland life, and an even later penalty awarded to the Timbers in stoppage time was dispatched by Kevin Kelsy to help Portland survive by the skin of their teeth against the MLS Next Pro side in front of a raucous crowd.

Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers FC

Lineups & Prematch

Many of the Timbers usual starters were rested tonight, but Phil Neville fielded quite a strong starting XI, compared to other ones he could have. Maxime Crepeau started in the back, Dario Zuparic made his 2025 debut next to Zac McGraw, and usual reserves such as Cristhian Paredes, Ariel Lassiter, and Omir Fernandez also handed starts.

Timbers2 players made up the bench, with homegrown standout Sawyer Jura, SuperDraft picks Kyle Linhares and Gage Guerra, and academy product Daniel Nunez highlighting the short-term call-ups.

As is tradition for an Open Cup game in the Puget Sound (I guess?), the match was played at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, Washington. The field was compact, the stands were small, and the speakers were turned up way too high.

Still, a small yet mighty contingent of traveling Timbers fans made themselves known early and often in the far corner of the stadium.

Match Recap & Storyline

As you may have expected for a group of MLS regulars going up against an MLS Next Pro side, the Timbers controlled the majority of possession and flow of the match in the early going. Tacoma played mostly for counters, while having small stints of possession here and there.

But still, Tacoma was there for one thing and one thing only: the “cupset”. The fans knew that too, and any chance the Defiance had to stride forward was met with loud cheers of encouragement from the Sounders Defiance fans. And several of those forays forward nearly resulted in a high-chance scoring opportunity, to the chagrin of many a Timbers fan watching the “just above a potato” quality of livestream.

Despite the on-paper talent advantage and majority of early possession, Portland’s offense looked choppy and disconnected. Through 23 minutes, the Timbers had only managed a single shot on target via a free kick.

Through 30 minutes, the game was remarkably more evenly matched than I think the average on-looker expected. Yes, the Timbers team featured just two players you could call regular starters, but their opponents were majority MLS Next Pro players. Portland’s level of ability was higher than that of their opponents.

As was their physical stature, as somebody must have reminded Zac McGraw — which he used to his advantage to head home the match’s opening goal.

34’ GOAL TIMBERS — Zac McGraw, 0-1
Off a corner kick from Ari Lassiter, the Timbers threw their big bodies forward into the box. Dario Zuparic got in the way of Tacoma ‘keeper Andrew Thomas, and Zac McGraw met the ball unimpeded at the far post to head home the ball on the doorstep.

There may have been an argument about Zuparic committing a foul on Thomas, but without the benefit of VAR in this round of the Open Cup (or a better quality broadcast) there was nothing more to be done — much to the very loud chagrin of the home crowd.

The relief generated by the goal almost evaporated a minute later, as a dangerous Tacoma ball fizzed on the deck right on front of goal by Sounders winger Georgi Minoungou flew through the box thankfully untouched.

The half slowed to a close with Portland holding the lead — but barely.

Halftime: Tacoma Defiance 0, Portland Timbers 1

It wasn’t a wholly impressive performance from the Timbers, especially offensively. It seems like Portland’s inability to break down a team with the ball permeates the entire team, not just the regular starters. Tacoma generated something close to a couple serious chances, and the defense’s response to them did not inspire confidence.

Phil Neville made one sub at half, handing a Timbers debut to 17-year-old academy product Daniel Núñez in favor of Claudio Bravo. Núñez set up tucked in on the left side as a forward, and left winger Ian Smith shifted to left back.

Almost as soon as the second half started, it all completely unraveled for Portland.

48’ Goal Tacoma — Osaze De Rosario, 1-1
Minoungou showcased his speed and dribbling once again, blowing by Smith to cut back a ball to the far post. De Rosario was there to meet it, and he knocked it in to level the match.

Portland’s defense took a punch to the mouth, and it completely shellshocked them. Still in a daze and disorganized, Portland’s defense was caught unawares minutes later for another concession.

51’ Goal Tacoma — Yu Tsukanome, 2-1
Portland’s defense was burned on the right wing yet again, as Minoungou once more played a dangerous cutback ball. With the defense’s positioning remarkably poor, Tsukanome was able to hit the shot through a mass of bodies, and nestled it into the bottom corner.

Within just five minutes, the match had been turned completely on its head. And if you had been paying attention, you probably weren’t surprised.

Faced with the prospect of an absolutely ignominious defeat at the hands of the development side of their biggest rival, the Timbers still couldn’t muster something close to a consistent offense. Portland couldn’t generate any kind of real vertical threat from their wingers or fullbacks. It left Kevin Kelsy more and more isolated, and limited targets for the limited crosses to find.

As the half wore on, Portland started to push higher and higher. Núñez brought energy, and SuperDraft pick Kyle Linhares finally brought a bit of the verticality and width Portland’s attack needed.

Still, they couldn’t find a way through. It seemed like their offense consisted of hopeful crosses that were easily cut out. The message being sent by everyone in green and white on the field was that they simply didn’t want it as bad as Tacoma.

Everyone except Gage Guerra, that is.

81’ GOAL TIMBERS — Gage Guerra, 2-2
Not three full minutes after he was subbed onto the field, the 2024 SuperDraft pick made his mark with practically his first touch. A long ball pinged forward found Smith in space on the left wing, and the rookie whipped in a perfect lofted cross into the box. Guerra rose high into the air and levitated over his defender to meet the ball, and turned it home to level the score.

After the goal, it was all Timbers. Tacoma’s players looked tired, and Portland pushed all of their players forward in an attempt to find the winner.

The energy brought by Núñez, Linhares, Guerra, and Sawyer Jura truly was the difference. The assertiveness brought by the young players sparked Portland’s offense, and breathed life into an attacking phase that looked bereft of ideas.

As the minutes ticked down, it seemed as if the sided were destined to play thirty more minutes of extra time, and potentially then on to penalties.

And then the magic of the cup struck at the death, and for the first time in a good long while it favored the Timbers.

90’+4 PK GOAL TIMBERS — Kevin Kelsy, 2-3
With the match entering it’s final seconds, Kelsy played in a cross into the box after a cleared Timbers corner. It was traveling away from goal, but Minoungou decided to pull back Paredes by his shirt anyway. The referee pointed to the spot, and Portland had a chance to win the match right on the stroke of full time.

Under a cacophony of boos, and with an energetic ball kid behind the goal trying to distract, Kelsy held his nerve and fired the penalty kick into the left side of the goal.

Minutes later, after an almighty scrum in the box was barely cleared by Portland, the whistle blew for full time. The Timbers had miraculously avoided the worst case scenario, and come from behind to defeat the Tacoma Defiance

FULL TIME: Tacoma Defiance 2, Portland Timbers 3

Something about Timbers Open Cup matches at Starfire, man.

That was entirely more dramatic than it needed to be. The Timbers were the second best side for the vast majority of the night, and were punished for sloppy defense and disjointed offense. While I respect Phil Neville’s decision to play a strong starting XI, it genuinely felt like only a few of them actually wanted to be out there.

It is not lost on me then that Portland started to fight back in the match after the Timbers2 contingent came on. Linhares, Guerra, Jura, and Núñez all showed an energy and determination that very few others Timbers players did. Guerra obviously gets the most plaudits for scoring the equalizer, but all of those young guys played a part in getting Portland over the line.

Make no mistake, this was a tough environment for Portland to play in. The fans in the stands were rowdy, and grew to a fever pitch as the cupset looked to be on. So Portland deserves credit for holding their nerve and surviving.

But make no mistake, the Timbers did this to themselves. Tacoma wilted in the final fifteen minutes, but up until that point they were the better side. Perhaps if the soccer gods were just, Tacoma would maybe have tallied the biggest Cascadia cupset in history.

However, the soccer gods are cruel, and Gage Guerra can jump good. Portland earned their survival, and made the most of their chances. It was harder than it needed to be, but the box score won’t reflect that. The Timbers survive and advance in the U.S. Open Cup.

Their reward? A trip down to California. The Timbers will travel to the winner of Wednesday night’s San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sacramento Republic matchup for the round of 16.

Portland returns to MLS action on Saturday May 10, when they host Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park.