Timbers get a great start in League’s Cup with a 4-0 win over Atlético de San Luis

The Portland Timbers got a statement win to build confidence after a somber run at home with 1 out 6 possible points at Providence Park for the last couple matches of MLS regular season. The 4-0 victory in their first of three games in their bracket of the 2025 Leagues Cup, builds confidence and sets them in a strong position to go through their group. 

The format of this tournament pitches 18 teams of Mexico’s Liga MX and 18 USA’s Major League Soccer divided in two conferences, and subdivided in brackets of 6 teams (three of each country). The league phase is not much of it as results are tallied after only three games against opposing country league teams, and the top four of MLS and the top four of Liga MX go through the knock out stage. Portland sits in the Western 2 bracket, will have them face Querétaro FC this coming Saturday and Club America on Wednesday, August 6. The rest of the bracket is filled with MLS teams Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake City.

In this scenario, the goal difference, will be as critical as the win itself, many teams might win all three games, low scoring teams will struggle. That is why the four goals of last Wednesday night are so important for the Timbers to position themselves for a chance to get through the league stage.

The Timbers scored fast, in the first minute via David Da Costa, back after injury. The early goal might have set the course for an easy Portland win, but the first half offered instead a contested match, in which San Luis offered their best midfield work, possession, and pressing fast to win back the ball. 

San Luis had shown moments of good football, and had the Timbers struggling to keep the ball, but lacked teeth to create opportunities. The numbered times they got through, they found a very secure James Pantemis under Portland’s goal. 

The Timbers were pushed to defend, but they were able to do it in order, and didn’t suffer much danger, but they also weren’t able to control the run of the play and had trouble getting close to San Luis goal. Portland sounded the alarm when with just five minutes in the half, David Da Costa had leave the field after an injury for Santiago Moreno. 

The second half was a different story, the dynamics didn’t change much, but the Timbers’ effectiveness in yet another great showing from Santiago Moreno, orchestrating the team from the three quarter line, got the Timbers three more goals. Kevin Kelsey in the 56th minute, Ariel Lassiter in the 73rd, and Felipe Mora in the 78th, sealed a great start for the Portland Timbers in this 2025 League’s Cup edition. 

Atlético San Luis kept fighting as the score kept getting more adverse, showing off its good discipline and good football, but kept struggling to hurt in the final yards, and when it did, an inspired Pantemis successfully kept his goal empty. The Canadian goalkeeper, earned a very important clean sheet that propelled Portland to the top of the conference with a +4  goal average on top of the three points. 

The Portland Timbers are sitting second in the MLS conference, behind Seattle Sounders who got a stunning 7-0 win over Cruz Azul at Lumen Field on Thursday. The Timbers will have the chance to build in this win against Querétaro FC again at Providence Park this coming Saturday August 2nd at 8:00 PM.

On the other side of the table, San Luis will have a chance to turn their fortunes around also on Saturday, this time against Real Salt Lake at 6:30.

Gallery photos by Diego G Diaz.

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