2013. That’s the last time the Portland Timbers made it to the semifinals of a U.S. Open Cup tournament, and in recent years, the team hasn’t gotten particularly close. Although Portland returned to the quarterfinal stage a year later, subsequent tournaments have seen poor timing and unfavorable draws push the competition down the club’s priority list. In recent years, it just hasn’t made much sense to put too many eggs in the Open Cup basket.
Not so this season. Two games at home to start the competition. A new, favorably deep roster. A quarterfinal game in the same timezone, (Wednesday, 7:30pm PT, Webstream at Timbers.