Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy | 2018 US Open Cup Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy
2018 U.S. Open Cup - Round of 16
Providence Park — Portland
June 15 - 11 pm ET

Two Western Conference foes clash Friday night at Providence Park with a berth in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on the line as the Portland Timbers host the LA Galaxy.

This is the second USOC meeting between the two in the Round of 16, with the Galaxy prevailing in 2016, 1-0, on a fifth-minute goal by Raul Mendiola, and the third meeting this season. The Galaxy opened the 2018 MLS season with a 2-1 home win over Portland on March 4, followed by a 1-1 draw at Providence Park on June 2.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers booked their spot in the Round of 16 by defeating the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, on June 6 at Providence Park.

Jeremy Ebobisse opened his 2018 account in the 28th minute and Dairon Asprilla added a 67th-minute equalizer after receiving a cross-field pass from Diego Chara, who made a 30-yard solo run to lead up to the goal.

On Saturday, Portland extended their league unbeaten streak to eight games with a 0-0 home draw against Sporting Kansas City.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: M - Andy Polo, M - David Guzman
Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (left Achilles tendon injury); QUESTIONABLE: D - Liam Ridgewell (right quad injury), GK - Jake Gleeson (back injury), GK - Kendall McIntosh (left thigh injury), D - Alvas Powell (left thigh injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-2-1, right to left)
GK: Jeff Attinella — Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Juan Cascante, Marco Farfan — Cristhian Paredes, Lawrence Olum, Andres Flores — Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Fanendo Adi

Notes: The Timbers are 8-6 all-time in the USOC since joining MLS in 2011 and made their deepest run in 2013 where they were eliminated by Real Salt Lake in the semifinals.

LA Galaxy

The Galaxy defeated FC Golden State Force, 3-1, at StubHub Center, on June 6 to reach the Round of 16.

After missing much of the season with a concussion, Bradford Jamieson IV put LA in front, 1-0, in the 15th minute before Ariel Lassiter scored the first of his two goals in the 37th minute to send the Galaxy into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Pedro Fonseca pulled the visitors within a goal in the 48th minute, but Lassiter capped the scoring five minutes from full time.

On Saturday, the Galaxy returned to league play to beat Real Salt Lake, 3-0, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck for a brace six minutes apart and Ola Kamara followed with his sixth goal of the season.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: F - Giovani dos Santos, M - Jonathan dos Santos
Injury Report: OUT: D - Rolf Feltscher (shoulder surgery); QUESTIONABLE: M - Sebastian Lletget (ankle injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: David Bingham — Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole — Perry Kitchen, Servando Carrasco — Chris Pontius, Bradford Jamieson IV, Emma Boateng — Ola Kamara

Notes: The Galaxy have recorded a 34-17-0 all-time record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They have entered the Open Cup every year since 1999, winning the tournament in 2001 and 2005 while reaching the final on two other occasions. Last year, the Galaxy advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition before falling to the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-2.