The Timbers once again traveled to Los Angeles to face LAFC in the US Open Cup, as they did during the last tournament in 2019, but this time the result was different as the Timbers fell 2-0 to LAFC. Cristian Arango and Mamadou Fall had the goals for the hosts.

Both teams had decent early chances, in the 22nd minute when a header by Cristian Arango was saved by David Bingham, and then a minute later when Timbers midfielder Santiago Moreno had a nice look on a break, but his dipping shot was stopped by a nice diving save by Maxime Crépeau.

But in the 32nd minute, LAFC would take the lead when Kwadwo Opoku made a deep run to the end line and crossed to Arango, who redirected the pass sweetly with his back foot and past Bingham, and LAFC had the 1-0 lead.   Diego Palacios and Latif Blessing would have good attempts before half that Bingham made good saves on, and LAFC would hold 1 -0 lead at the break.

After neither team threatened during the first ten minutes of the second half, the hosts would find a second goal in the 54th minute when a corner kick could not be cleared by the Timbers and bounced around within the box, but an open Mamadou Fall was able to hit a strong, bouncing strike that found the net, and LAFC had a 2-0 lead.

After some substations the Timbers found some life, and were unlucky not to score in the 71st minute when Sebastián Blanco made a deep run into the LA box but his high shot was tipped over the bar by Crépeau.  Shortly after the ensuing corner kick, the Timbers were inches from pulling back a goal when David Ayala‘s strike from outside hit the crossbar but was cleared.

In the 83rd minute, Portland’s Nathan Fogaça had a golden opportunity when she slipped by a charging Crépeau had briefly had an open net, but his tight angled shot was wide left.  

Neither team seriously threatened again and the host LAFC move on with the 2-0 win.