Timbers Exit 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Round of 32 with 4-3 Loss to Real Salt Lake

May 11, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Portland Timbers News Release

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers dropped a 4-3 result to Real Salt Lake in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday night at Providence Park. Sebastián Blanco, Justin Rasmussen and Jaroslaw Niezgoda all registered goals while Noel Caliskan and Nathan Fogaça tallied assists. Facing a quick turnaround, Portland will return to league play on Saturday, May 13, hosting Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Providence Park.

Tonight’s Goal Scorers and Playmakers

Blanco scored his first goal of 2023 and his 50th across all competitions. The Argentinian midfielder has recorded three goals and one assist in nine Open Cup appearances (eight starts) all time, including his first two appearances (both starts) of this year. Notably, in 14 appearances (12 starts) across all competitions against Real Salt Lake, Blanco has registered eight goals and seven assists. Rasmussen scored his first career goal for the Timbers tonight. With him and Blanco tallying their firsts of the year, they became the 15th and 16th players to score a goal for Portland across all competitions in 2023. Niezgoda scored his second goal in the competition and third across all competitions this year. Caliskan tallied his first career assists for the Timbers by notching two tonight, earning a second straight start in Open Cup play. This year, including his time with T2, Caliskan has notched three goals and three assists in eight appearances (six starts). Fogaça tallied his second assist of the year for the Timbers.

Notes from the U.S. Open Cup

Tonight’s match marked Portland’s 37th match in the U.S. Open Cup, dating back to 2004, and was the club’s first third match against Salt Lake in the tournament competition. Portland has an overall record of 20-17-0 in the competition and 10-8-0 when playing at home. Notably, the Timbers have advanced to the quarterfinal round four times (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019) and to semifinal rounds in 2013 and 2019. In this year’s tournament, five different Portland players scored at least a goal in the two matches played (Blanco, Tyler Clegg, Marvin Loría, Niezgoda, Rasmussen), while four players tallied assists (Pablo Bonilla, Caliskan, Fogaça, Niezgoda).

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR – Sebastián Blanco (Noel Caliskan), 4th minute: Putting pressure on Salt Lake midfielder Pablo Ruiz at the top of the 18-yard box, Caliskan stole the ball and sent it…