Portland Timbers are undefeated in Leagues Cup after win over Club Querétaro on Saturday

The Portland Timbers are sitting in 3rd place in the MLS Leagues Cup standings after two matches in the initial phase of this summer’s tournament. After a sweeping 4-0 victory over San Luis on 7/30 and defeating Club Querétaro 1-0 on Saturday, the Timbers are ready to take on America in Austin tonight.

Phil Neville used the depth of his bench and brought up 18-year-old T2 player Noah Santos to fill the midfield in Saturday’s match. With the Leagues Cup in the middle of the MLS season, Portland will be playing a total of 5 matches in two weeks’ time meaning player rotation becomes just as strategically important as studying each opposing team. 

It took a while for Portland to settle into the physicality of play that Club Querétaro used. The first 30 minutes of play consisted of free kick after free kick for Portland. The first corner for Portland came in the 14th minute with Ariel Lassiter taking the kick. 

James Pantemis was rarely needed in goal and made his first of two saves in the 31st minute when Fernando González sent a right footed shot down the center from outside the box. His second save was an easy catch in the 44th minute.

Kevin Kelsy earned the first yellow card of the match in the 35th for “poor sportsmanship” when a Club Querétaro player fell over and insinuated that Kelsy pushed him. Head referee, Jesus Lopez, would give a total of 5 yellow cards out including back-to-back cautions resulting in a red card. 

Portland was awarded a corner kick directly after Kelsy’s yellow card. Ari took service again and placed the ball directly in the center of goal. The ball dropped and Christian Paredes’ first shot was blocked by Fernando Piñuelas. The rebound fell back at Christian’s feet, and he scored on his second chance. 

Timbers’ defender Ian Smith earned the team’s second yellow card for flopping in the 39th minute. In the final minute of regular time left wing back Jonathan Perlaza was given Club Querétaro’s first caution for taking down Omir Fernández. He quickly earned his second after slamming the ball down in response to his first. His teammates shoved him off the pitch as he continued to protest his red card.

Portland captain, Kamal Miller, made a strong diving header clearance in the 45+2 and Dario Zuparic blocked the following corner kick attempt to end the first half with the Timbers on top 1-0.

Coach Neville made a triple substitution during the half bringing on Joao Ortiz, Felipe Mora, and Gage Guerra for David Ayala, Kevin Kelsy, and Ian Smith respectively.

Portland and 3 attempts on goal in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Eric Miller started it off with a close header in the 48th that just missed to the right. Former T2 player, Gage Guerra, had a header off a free kick saved in the 54th and Ari tried to score off a corner kick in the 60th that also missed to the right. 

Jimer Fory came into the game for Zac McGraw in the 68th minute. This was Zac’s first start in 3 months after dealing with back spasms. 

Kamal tried for a header in the 70th minute off a Lassiter corner kick but it sailed over the cross bar. Ortiz took a shot from the center of the box in the 79th but it was blocked. At this point, the match was heavily one sided, but Portland could not seem to find their next goal. 

Noah Santos entered the match in the 80th minute for Omir Fernández during the pause after Joao’s blocked shot. Portland had a few more free kick attempts and Club Querétaro had one last missed attempt in the 90th followed by 2 minutes of stoppage time to end the match. Portland Timbers 1, Club Querétaro 0.