LAFC vs. Portland Timbers | 2018 US Open Cup Match Preview

LAFC vs. Portland Timbers
U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals
Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles
July 18 - 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: USSoccer.com

It's deja vu all over again as LAFC and the Portland Timbers square off at Banc of California Stadium for the second time in four days. This time, a berth in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals will be on the line after the Western Conference foes battled to a 0-0 draw in MLS play Sunday.

The Timbers are in the quarterfinals for the third time in club history, while Bob Bradley tries to march another expansion team to the title after doing that with the Chicago Fire in 1998.

• LAFC, Timbers ready to "go for it" in USOC rematch
• Bradley compliments Timbers after "hard game"
• Who helped or hurt their stock in Week 20?
• Davies: Why Chara is Portland's Kante
• Analysis: Can anyone break down Timbers defense?

LAFC  

LAFC left it late in a dramatic 3-2 win over Sacramento Republic in the Round of 16, with Diego Rossi equalizing in the 67th minute and then setting up Latif Blessing’s 89th-minute winner.

LAFC remain unbeaten at the Banc (7-0-4 overall) and are within three points of first-place FC Dallas in the Western Conference with a scoreless draw against Portland on Sunday that stretched an unbeaten streak to six.

“They’re a team that’s dangerous in transition and we did a solid job of handling that so now we turn it around and play them under different circumstances on Wednesday, obviously Open Cup and a night game,” Bob Bradley said. “A lot of the ball, but now it’s just that pure ability to find the way to make a real chance.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: GK - Luis Lopez (right tibial stress fracture), GK - Quillan Roberts (right fibular fracture), M - Eduard Atuesta (left ankle sprain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey — Mark-Anthony Kaye, Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen— Latif Blessing, Adama Diomande, Diego Rossi

Portland Timbers

Sebastian Blanco’s goal on the half-hour mark proved to be the difference as Portland defeated the LA Galaxy, 1-0, in the Round of 16 last month at Providence Park. If they eliminate the other LA club on Wednesday, the Timbers will equal their deepest run in the tournament since joining MLS in 2011, reaching the semifinals in 2013.

The Timbers extended an unbeaten streak to 12 league games with Sunday’s 0-0 draw against LAFC. Portland beat the expansion side, 2-1, at Providence Park in May in the only other matchup between the Western Conference powerhouses.

“We’ll analyze what we did well today, what we need to improve, and we have an idea already for Wednesday,” Giovanni Savarese said “But we have to make sure that we revise it, plan and be ready for what we’re going to bring on Wednesday.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Roy Miller (left Achilles tendon injury), M - Cristhian Paredes (right thigh injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-2-1, right to left)
GK: Jeff Attinella — Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Julio Cascante, Zarek Valentin — Diego Chara, Lawrence Olum, Andy Polo— Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Samuel Armenteros

All-Time in U.S. Open Cup

• Overall: LAFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Portland Timbers 10 wins, 29 goals
• This is the first U.S. Open Cup meeting between LAFC and the Portland Timbers