Timbers score 5 in their first Leagues Cup 2026 match

It was a hot muggy night as the Portland Timbers hosted Club Puebla for their first match in of the Leagues Cup 2026. Clear sky was slowly becoming visible over the top of Providence Park after the city had been enveloped in wildfire smoke for the past few days. Only the top 4 teams out of the 18 in each league will advance in the tournament so collecting all 3 points is essential.

Portland started out hot with a quick goal in the 5th minute. Velde went for a shot that was blocked but Ari Lassiter was there to collect and deliver!

Puebla answered in the 14th minute with a stunning cross from the right side forward, Brayan Garnica, to his target, Eduardo Mustre. Mustre to one touch from about 6 yards out from the goal and sent the ball right past Portland keeper, Trey Muse. Muse is in goal for the Timbers due to an injured James Pantemis after a bonk in his last match put him on concussion watch.

Puebla took control of the match for the next 10 minutes. Velde and José Caicedo had not found the rhythm that Velde has with Diego Chara yet, and it was evident in some of the missed passes and opportunities between them. Emiliano Gómez took a shot for Puebla from the center just outside the arch in the 21st minute that was an easy collection for Muse.

The Timbers started to look more alive after the 25th minute when Velde’s shot was barley saved by the left hand of Daniel Gutiérrez after a massive dive across the box. Velde was back at it again in the 31st minute when he tried to get a cross to David DaCosta. Too many touches by Velde led to a blocked pass and a Timbers corner kick with no results.

DaCosta and Velde were in a groove with each one making coordinated runs and finding each other consistently for a pass. They were making plays happen and in the 31st minute, it paid off. Velde earned a corner kick, which he took, and found the head of Cole Basset for the go ahead goal!

Ian Smith made a powerful run 2 minutes later, keeping control of the ball despite being surrounded by 3 defenders. His shot was blocked but Smith was able to collect and get a pass of to DaCosta. DaCosta sent the ball to the back of the net giving Portland their 3rd goal.

There were only 3 minutes of stoppage time added to the first half. That was all the time Portland needed to find one more goal before the whistle. In the 45th+3 DaCosta made a break away run with Basset running parallel, each with a defender in tow. DaCosta drove the ball all the way to the net then make a last second pass to Cole, who did not hesitate to score. The first half ended 4-1, Portland.

José Caicedo and Kristoffer Velde both made an attempt to score in the 49th minute after Caicedo’s header missed and Velde’s clean up shot was blocked. Velde was back at it a minute later when Portland earned another corner kick. He served the ball in and also had an attempt at goal all during the same play.

The Timber’s had found their flow early in the 2nd half and had an easy way about their play. That’s not to say they sat back and played keep away for the rest of the match, they were cruising towards their next goal with cool confidence.

That goal came in the 55nd minute when David DaCosta took the ball all the way to the far post, dragging 3 defenders with him, before passing back and finding Ari Lassiter. Ari watched David create some space in front of the goal, read the pass, then took a shot in stride at the 4 yard line hitting the inside left corner of the net.

Both teams used the goal as an opportunity to make their first substitutions of the match in the 61st minute. Timbers’ interim coach, Jack Cassidy, brought Ari off before he had the chance to break the h_ _  t_ _ _ _ _ curse and replaced him with a T2 player he knows well, Sawyer Jura. Omir Fernández came off the bench for Velde, insuring he gets some rest before Sunday’s match against Club América. Puebla also made a 2 man substitution followed by a 3rd in the 65th.

Óscar Villa took Puebla’s 1st shot of the 2nd half 25 minutes into the half but it was blocked by Brandon Bye. That was Bye’s last contribution as he was taken off for Eric Miller in the 70th along with Da Costa coming off for Gage Guerra.

In the 73rd minute, Sergio Sanabria took a shot for Club Puebla that was saved by Muse. Puebla then made their last two substitutions. Cassidy brought on Kevin Kelsy for Cole Basset in the 77th minute. Basset, like Lassiter, was left the pitch with only a brace.

Club Puebla continued to push as the Timbers became a little complacent as the match went on. Their perseverance paid off in the 80th minute when Emiliano Gómez sent a rocket from the top left of the arc  and into the back of the net. Goal differential counts in this tournament and the Timbers gave a point away with this goal.

In desperation, Puebla earned the only two caution cards of the match during the few plays following their goal. The first to Sergio Sanabria in the 81st for a bad foul on Joao Ortiz, and Ángel Leyva in the 90+1 for a hard hit on Kevin Kelsy. Luifer Hernández’ took a shot in the 90+2 but it was blocked by Finn Surman.

Gage Guerra had a fantastic header in the final minute of stoppage play when Ian Smith sent a great long cross from the right into the box. It was unfortunately saved by Puebla keeper, Daniel Gutiérrez, and was the final play of the night. Portland 5, Club Puebla 2.