After a tough loss to on Saturday at FC Cincinnati, the Portland Timbers returned home to face USL team Orange County SC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Both teams were coming off 1-2 losses in regular season play and looking for a huge bounce-back game to advance to the fourth round of the tournament.
The Timbers received huge news and a boost for the encounter. Returning from injury for the was Sebastián Blanco, who would be available to play his first minutes for the club in 2023.
Three players from Portland’s second team received opportunities to play this game. Tyler Clegg started at center back next to veteran Larrys Mabiala, Noel Caliskan—who today signed a one-year contract with the senior Timbers team—started in midfield, and Víctor Griffith came off the bench.
The first ten minutes saw the visitors outshoot Portland three to zero, but outside of a few shaky moments, Portland was in relative control of the match.
Portland would end up winning the game 3-1, thanks to goals from Marvin Loría in the 37th minute, Clegg in the 48th minute, and Jarosław Niezgoda in the 92nd minute.
Here’s some takeaways from the match.
The return of Seba!
Blanco is one of the best players in Timbers history. His contributions include 40 goals and 50 assists in his MLS career. He is vital for this team’s success, and his return provided a huge boost.
The star has battled through injury and adversity most of 2022 and at the start of 2023. His pain in the right knee was so excruciating, that it caused him trouble to even walk at certain times. Blanco even had doubts if his comeback was even possible, but giving up was never an option, he said.
“You know me,” he said, “and I never give up. No matter what the people or someone can say to me. If I have the possibility, I will give everything back. I tried to help my team in the minutes that I can do it and what the coach wants also, but I think I have more time for play.”
He played 34 minutes on Wednesday, but just seeing him on the pitch again should bring a smile to every single person.
Blanco, himself, said he was “very happy” to be back. “It was really hard work mentally and physically to get back,” he said. “It wasn’t easy for me, but I was so happy to pass another obstacle and try to help my team in the way that I can do it.”
Congrats on being back on the pitch again, Seba!
T2 stepping up
As discussed earlier, the Timbers made three call-ups prior to the game: Clegg, Caliskan, and Griffith.
Caliskan, 22, was selected in the first round, 15th overall, by the Timbers in the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of Loyola Marymount University.
Clegg, 22, was drafted by Portland in the third round, 85th overall, of the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of James Madison University.
Griffith, 22, joined the club ahead of the 2022 T2 season. The Panamanian international made his first-team debut as a starter in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup match against LAFC on May 10.
Caliskan and Clegg started against Orange County, while Griffith came off the bench. Center back Clegg headed home a corner kick off a gorgeous cross from Pablo Bonilla in the 48th minute.
All three T2-ers played major roles, and head coach Gio Savarese was full of praise.
“They played great,” he said. “They were very competitive. Caliskan [played] the entire 90 minutes, plus [and] did very well. Not only with managing a lot of the middle but also with the ball. Then Griffith came in for Paredes… Griffith did a great job. His second game in the U.S. Open Cup for us, and this is good from a club. When you’re able to play these players and they deliver… [Clegg] looked good in the back. He scored his goal.
“These are the exciting moments for us as a club,” Savarese said, “to see players step up and then deliver.”
Savarese said he could see some of the T2 players making appearances for the senior team later this season. He also credited Shannon Murray, the head coach of T2 for all the work he has done.
Stat zone
- Portland outshot Orange County 18 to 13.
- PTFC xG: 1.54, OCSC xG: 0.86
- Bonilla led the team in crosses attempted, successful dribbles, and chances created.
- Rasmussen and Caliskan led the team in tackles won.
- Loría had four shots to lead the team.
- Mabiala was the team’s leader in touches, passes completed, and possession won.
