The Portland Timbers put up a good effort against a powerful Mexican team in CF Monterrey during the Leagues Cup round of 32, but ended up on the short end of a 1-0 final. Maximiliano Meza would have the lone goal of the match for the visitors.
The best early chance for the Timbers would be in the 13th minute when Franck Boli‘s shot slid just wide left. Six minutes later he’d have another good chance but put the shot just wide right this time.
Monterrey’s chances would get better as the half continued, with Germán Berterame having a brilliant chance in the 36th minute, but his open-net chance would be over the crossbar. But just as the first half entered stoppage time, CF Monterrey would make their good scoring chance pay off when a nice through pass found Maximiliano Meza open as he entered the Timbers box, and be blasted a shot past goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič, just inside the right post, and Monterrey would take a 1-0 lead, which they would hold at the break.
In the 66th minute, Monterrey would have a great chance to widen the lead on a breakaway where Meza would chip over Ivačič’s head as the Timbers keeper charged off his line, but the shot was off the right post.
The Timbers would have several late chances, with Jarosław Niezgoda redirecting a shot in the 86th minute which Esteban Andrada did well to control. In the 87th minute, Portland’s Diego Chará would slide a chance just wide right.
Then, as stoppage time was ending, the Timbers had their best chance of the night to level the score when a failed Monterrey clearance fell to the feet of Dario Župarić, wide open just 12 yards out from goal, but his point-blank shot was saved brilliantly by Andrada. And that would be the last chance, and Monterrey would hold on for the 1-0 win.
