The Timbers played the Blitzz in both teams final US Open Cup qualifying game. The Blitzz had already qualified as a D3 wildcard and had lost the previous night in Seattle. The Timbers went into the game knowing that anything less than a 3 goal win would not be enough to be in with a chance of picking up the final wildcard.

Bobby Howe started Michael O’Neill, Kevin Legg and Jesus Ochoa, the Blitzz were without leading scorer Fadi Afash (sent off the previous night) but played new signing Athanasios Koubouras.

The game started with Westcott finding McNichol but his cross was safely held by Napoleon. With both teams feeling each other out the first real chance fell to the Timbers on 6’. O’Neill played the ball into the box, headed out to Benedetti. His cross to the far post found Ochoa, his center was aimed at Sawatsky but Littman was there first.

A minute later at the other (MAC) end Benedetti lost the ball to Westcott who played the ball into the incoming McNichol but Napoleon was on hand to clear. Michael O’Neill played another nice ball to Kevin Legg on the right but his shot went off keeper Littman for the corner.

On 10’ Utah put together a good move on the left. McNichol to Pukrin, who played the ball wide to McNab on the overlap. He cut the ball back to McNichol who shot wide from the edge of the box.

On 12’ The Pipes! Ah, the Pipes!! Some genius brought bagpipes to the game!

On 14’ O’Neill and Legg, who were combining nicely in midfield, played a 1-2 but the ball was just too far for O’Neill to reach the ball before Littman.

On 15’ another good passing move by the Blitzz. Pukrin’s ball cleared Chulis to find Westcott. He found Guttierez who played the ball to Koubouras on the left but Ochoa put out his cross for the corner. A minute later a head back by Wilkinson made Napoleon hurry to clear and Matt appeared to be limping briefly but didn’t seem to suffer for the rest of the game.

On 17’ the dangerous Guttierez found McNichol but Sancho was there to cover well. Then on 20’ another dangerous Utah move. Westcott robbed Chulis, rounded Wilkinson but, luckily for the Timbers, O’Neill was there to cover. Shortly after, McNichol hit a nice volley from the edge of the box forcing a save out of Napoleon diving to his left.

On 23’ the Timbers best chance as Legg played a beauty into O’Neill but he hit the side netting from 10 yds on the right.

On 24’ Sancho, who was finding a lot of space wide on the right to come forward, received a crossfield ball from Wilkinson. His great run fully 60 yds to the right post ended with a cross across the box but alas there was no Timber there to finish.

Then on 26’ another great chance for O’Neill. Baena tried to find Sawatsky, the ball was cleared out to Ochoa and his cross from the right found O’Neill 5 yds out but he could only hit the ball straight at Littman.

Then on 28’ the move that set up the Utah goal. Guttierez played the ball to McNab, Sancho pulled him down receiving a deserved yellow card and setting up a Blitzz free kick at the top left-hand corner of the box. As McNab left the field limping, McNichol played the ball in for Ovalle to head past Napoleon into the right corner to make the score 1 – 0 to the Blitzz. (30’)

The Timbers tried to hit back immediately. O’Neill to Benedetti, whose cross to Ochoa at the far post was put back across the goal but Sawatsky didn’t fully connect with the bicycle kick attempt.

The Timbers applied some more pressure. Chulis to Baena (who was fouled by Munoz – the ref let play continue and carded Munoz at the next stoppage) to Sawatsky. Darren gave the ball to Sancho but his cross went right to Littman.

On 36’ McNab, who was still feeling the effects of the challenge by Sancho, was replaced by Estrada.

The Timbers kept up the pressure trying to find the equalizer. Ochoa found space to run inside from wide on the right but his shot was blocked. Then O’Neill got in a cross from the right but again the good Utah defense: Cariel as sweeper, Breza on Baena and Ovalle on Sawatsky, cleared the ball.

On 42’ O’Neill had "strong words" with Munoz after he dived and in the 2^nd minute of injury time Utah nearly made it 2. Estrada to Guttierez to Koubouras. His cross from the right saw Westcott sliding in just too late and the sides went in with the Blitzz leading 1 – 0.

The second half started with Utah 2-on-2, McNichol and Breza making a forward run but his miskicked shot went wide. Then on 49’ the Timbers hit back. Wilkinson out to Benedetti on the left, he played to ball into Legg and after a scramble in the box Sawatsky put the ball away. 1 – 1.

Spaces were beginning to open up in the Timbers defence as they pressed forward for another and both teams were fighting hard in midfield looking for domination. As the sounds of Amazing Grace floated across PGE Park from the Woodshed, Pukrin picked up a yellow for a foul on Winters (55’) and Greg Howes came on for an unhappy O’Neill (56’). O’Neill kicked an advertising board in frustration before lying down to have an ice pack administered on a thigh (or groin?).

The Timbers were still getting forward, a Sancho run winning a free kick 20 yds out on the right edge of the box on 62’. Then a Sawatsky throw into the box off Sancho’s head found Baena, but stretching his soft header gave Littman no trouble. In fact Mark Baena had few chances throughout the game and was well marked by Breza.

The Blitzz attacked again on 65’, first a McNichol throw to Estrada, he turned and got to the goal line on the left but his cross was behind. Then Chulis lost the ball to Koubouras, he played the ball forward to McNichol, the ball bounced awkwardly over Wilkinson but his shot was wide.

Chulis lost the ball again on 68’, this time to Estrada on the right, his cross found McNichol alone in front of goal with a great chance but his shot was straight at Napoleon.

As in the game against Minnesota a tired defence was leaving spaces at the back for chances late in the game, but this time it was the Timbers who were in danger.

On 69’ Legg found Benedetti on the left, his cross to the far post found Ochoa but he miskicked his shot.

Then a five minute spell in which Utah finished the game. On 71’ a McNichol throw into Estrada on the penalty spot, he turned and played the ball to Koubouras. Napoleon saved his shot but Westcott put in the rebound to put the Blitzz ahead 2 – 1.

The Timbers then forced a couple of corners before Utah put the game beyond doubt. Chulis chopped down the ever-dangerous Guttierez and received a deserved yellow card. McNichol took the free kick from about 25 yds out on the left and an unmarked Koubouras headed past Napoleon from close range to make the score 3 – 1 to Utah.

Utah broke again a minute later with the Timbers looking tired and ragged. Guttierez found Westcott but his cross was in front of the incoming McNichol.

On 78’ Guttierez robbed Winters, McNichol put Westcott through but an offside gave the ball back to the Timbers.

Costigan replaced Benedetti on 79’

On 80’ another Utah break: McNichol, Estrada, Guttierez back to Estrada but the fresh legs of Costigan were there to cover.

Tolstolutsky replaced Legg on 83’ and Costigan got a couple of good crosses in from the left, Sawatsky heading over from one on 85’. The last Timbers attack ended with Ochoa being offside from a Tolstolutsky through ball and with even Napoleon getting sloppy, giving the ball away to Estrada, the game ended after 3 minutes of injury time with the Blitzz running out worthy winners 3 – 1.


A tired Timbers were outplayed for big parts of this game by the Blitzz who took advantage of some sloppy play in defence to win this game. Three set-pieces led to Utah goals, 2 from yellow card challenges from Timbers players. As it turned out results elsewhere meant that the Timbers US Open Cup hopes were over anyway and for Utah a result which proves that they are easily A-League standard.



[Teams]

Portland
Napoleon, Sancho, Wilkinson, Chulis, Benedetti (Costigan 79'), Ochoa, O'Neill (Howes 56'), Winters, Legg (Tolstolutsky 83'), Sawatsky, Baena

Utah
Littman, Ovalle, Cariel, Breza, Pukrin, McNab (Estrada 36'), Munoz, Westcott, Koubouras, McNichol, Guttierez