Open Cup: Tacoma Defiance-Portland Timbers Preview (5/6)

The ultimate banana-peel game.

Portland’s Open Cup campaign begins with a trip to a familiar place: Starfire. However, they’re facing an opponent that is unfamiliar.

The Defiance Report

For the first time ever, a MLS team will face another team’s MLS NEXTPRO affiliate in a competitive match. Let’s recap how this abomination of a fixture was allowed to happen.

I don’t think it’s too hot of a take to say that every MLS team should be able to compete in all available competitions (that they qualify for). However, there is a change to Leagues Cup that I actually quite like.

Because of this change, the initial stage of Leagues Cup will only feature MLS vs. Liga MX matches. This is a good thing. The old format was broken (it didn’t properly reward teams who topped their group) and giving clear parameters to qualify for the tournament actually feels like participation is earned, not given. For a specialized competition like Leagues Cup, it makes sense. However, the feeling that MLS is forcing this competition down the viewing public’s throat has merit. Especially when other cup competitions are being nerfed.

There is only one game left in CCC. I feel like telling teams that they can’t send their first team to play in this competition is utter nonsense. Since the Seattle Sounders (Tacoma’s major league baseball team) qualified for CCC (and got knocked out, haha) the Tacoma Defiance had to take their place. The Sounders earned the right to field a team for Open Cup, with player selection dictated by the manager in charge. Every MLS team should be afforded that opportunity. Instead, we have to deal with this horrific fixture.

Tacoma currently sits atop the Western Conference in NEXTPRO with a 5-0-2 record. They are the only team in the league to score more than 20 goals (22 total). That attack is buoyed by the top 2 scorers in the league: Osaze de Rosario (Dwayne’s kid) and Yu Tsukanome. In their 3 prior Open Cup matches, Tacoma dispatched Washington Athletic Club, Spokane Velocity, and Oakland. This is the biggest match in the history of Tacoma Defiance.

Hawkins, Sousa, Thomas, Baker, Leyva, and Minoungou all have first-team contracts and are on the Sounders’ roster. I’m anticipating Leyva, Thomas, Baker, and Minoungou being the only senior players who get playing time in this game.

The Timbers Report

This match is the definition of a “high risk, low reward.” If the Timbers win, it’s because they absolutely should be beating a NEXTPRO team. If they lose, it’s on the level of Cal FC (maybe worse considering the rivalry implications). But Portland’s roster is full of depth players, and it’s time for some of them to get valuable game time.

That’s a lot of senior players (and it should be, the senior team is playing the game after all). The backline is easy to pick (headlined by the return of ZZ Stop) and new signings Fernandez and Lassiter should start. Three T2 players should be in the lineup: Enriquez, Linhares, and Guerra. Enriquez is an academy kid who made his first-team debut last year in the final minutes of the Nashville victory. Linhares is a 2024 draft pick who is yet to make a first-team appearance. Ditto for Guerra, a Coachella participant this winter. It is worth noting that Guerra scored a hat-trick for T2 against Ventura County back on April 23rd.

Matchday Info

Broadcast Details

Broadcast platform: CBS Sports Network & Paramount+

Kickoff time: 7:00 PM PST

Final Whistle

This is a short article, but I don’t think it needs to be that long. The stakes are clear. Avoid the banana peel and get some key minutes for senior depth players.

However, the Open Cup is the trophy that I want to win the most. It’s the 50th anniversary season, and the Timbers have never won it. This opening game is the least optimal fixture for that campaign to begin, but they’ll have to win it nonetheless. Portland enters Open Cup in the Round of 32. They only need to win 5 games to win the tournament for the first time. The quest begins.