3 – 1
“Mourad El Ghezouani punished Portland's profligacy to give Tijuana a shock lead. After Miller had a shot saved at 7' and El Ghezouani himself had a header kept out at 14', the Tijuana forward stayed composed to convert and silence Providence Park.”
Pivotal“Kevin Kelsy restored parity just before half-time to give Portland a crucial lifeline, levelling proceedings after a frantic few minutes that saw a yellow card, a blocked shot, and an offside flag all in quick succession.”
Pivotal“Antony, introduced just eight minutes earlier as part of a triple substitution, latched onto a Kevin Kelsy assist to put Portland in front for the first time. The goal rewarded Portland's suffocating second-half pressure and signalled that Tijuana's resistance had finally been broken.”
Pivotal“Ariel Lassiter put the tie beyond doubt with Portland's third, tapping home from an Antony assist to complete a controlled second-half performance and ensure there would be no late Tijuana drama.”
Pivotal
Portland Timbers
Tijuana
Outstanding performance
Portland Timbers•AttackerPortland Timbers dominated this Leagues Cup tie from almost every statistical angle — 67% possession, 16 shots to Tijuana's eight, and a remarkable 57 dangerous attacks compared to the visitors' 18 — yet they were made to work for a result that looked comfortable only in the final scoreline. Tijuana struck first through Mourad El Ghezouani at 19', a goal built on the back of sustained early pressure and Portland's failure to convert several early opportunities, including a Miller shot saved and a Bassett effort off-target. Kevin Kelsy dragged Portland level just before the break, and though yellow cards for Vega, Miller, and Velde added heat to the closing stages of the first half, neither side could find a decisive moment before the interval. The match turned on Phil Neville's — or whoever the Portland bench belongs to — bold triple substitution at the hour mark, with Antony's introduction proving the catalyst: the Brazilian scored within four minutes of arriving and then teed up Ariel Lassiter for a third that finally killed the tie. Tijuana goalkeeper made five saves throughout and kept the scoreline respectable, but Portland's relentless pressure and the quality of their attacking reinforcements ultimately proved the difference in what was a convincing, if not dominant, Leagues Cup win.
How entertaining was this match?
Aaron Mejia takes a shot, but it is blocked.
Julio Ortiz receives a yellow card.
Angel Eduardo Zapata Praga takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
David Orduño is on, and Jonathan Padilla is off.
Substitution: Ian Fernando Olvera Chavarria comes on for Jesus Vega.
Julio Ortiz takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Jackson Gabriel Porozo Vernaza with his left foot, but it's saved.
Jesus Vega takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
On comes Sawyer Jura, off goes Jimer Fory.
Goal! Ariel Lassiter scores to make it 3-1, assisted by Antony Alves Santos.
Ariel LassiterGoal! Ariel Lassiter scores to make it 3-1, assisted by Antony Alves Santos.
Offside.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Vincent Janssen comes on for Kevin Kelsy.
Julio Ortiz replaces David Pereira Da Costa.
Julio Ortiz comes on for David Pereira Da Costa.
AntonyAntony Alves Santos scores with a right-footed shot.
Kevin Kelsy takes a right-footed shot but misses.
assist: Kevin Kelsy
Goal! Antony Alves scores to make it 2-1, assisted by Kevin Kelsy.
Goal! The score is now 2-1.
Substitution: Adonis Stalin Preciado Quintero comes on for Frank Boya.
Elias Alves replaces Mourad El Ghezouani.
On comes Francisco Gonzalez, off goes Angel Eduardo Zapata for Praga.
Antony Alves Santos is on, and Kristoffer Velde is off.
Omir Fernandez comes on for Cole Bassett.
Jose Luis Caicedo Barrera takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Kristoffer Velde takes a shot with his right foot, but it is saved.
Ariel Lassiter takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
First half ends with the score at 1-1.
Kristoffer VeldeYellow CardYellow card shown to Kristoffer Velde.
Kamal MillerYellow CardKamal Miller receives a yellow card.
Kevin Kelsy takes a shot with his left foot and scores.
assist: Jimer Fory
Goal! Kevin Kelsy scores, making it 1-1.
Offside.
Jesus Vega receives a yellow card.
David Pereira Da Costa takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
David Pereira Da Costa takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ariel Lassiter takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Mourad El GhezouaniMourad El Ghezouani takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Kevin Kelsy takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
assist: Alan Vega
Goal! Mourad El Ghezouani scores, making it 1-0.
Mourad El Ghezouani attempts a header, but it is saved.
Cole Bassett takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Eric Miller takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Finn Surman's header is blocked.
Kick-off has started!
