PORTLAND, OR – Chivas USA played its second game of the tournament in Portland against its MLS Western Conference rival, the Timbers, and tied 1-1. The match took place at the JELD-WEN Field this Thursday. Cesar Romero opened the score in the 21st minute for the Goats, and Timbers' defender Ryan Kawulok scored the equalizer in the 78th minute.
The home team kept the possession of the ball and controlled the game most of the time, but Chivas USA defensive and middle lines kept order and were well-organized by Ante Jazic and Nick LaBrocca in the first half of the match. The Red-and-White based its attacks through LaBrocca, Courtois, Zemanski, and Souza's speed to feed Casey Townsend (Juan Pablo Angel in the second half) and César Romero in front, who kept Timber's defensive line busy throughout the game.
Chivas USA Head Coach Robin Fraser started with a completely different lineup compared to last Monday's game with the exception of left-back Canadian Ante Jazic. As is, the squad generated several goal opportunities and scored once during the first 45 minutes. Brazilian midfielder Allan Souza penetrated Timbers' midfield from the right side of the pitch, time after time, and in the 21st minute crossed to Cesar Romero who barely reached the ball and placed it inside the net close to the right post of Portland's GK Jake Gleeson to open the score in favor of Chivas USA 1-0.
Timbers never stopped attacking from both sides of the pitch. In the 19th minute Timbers' forward Sebastian Rincon came close to the equalizer for the home team. Rincon penetrated dangerously into the box but Red-and-White defender Rauwshan McKenzie and GK Tim Melia communicated well and took away Rincon's opportunity.
In the 34th minute, Chivas USA's defender Brazilian David Jr. Lopes with a header inside the box was close to score the second for the visiting team but Timbers' defender Chris Taylor stole David's goal chance. Zemanski, right before the end of the first half, in the 44th minute, penetrated the midfield, crossed to Romero placing the ball inside Portland's box, but Timbers' GK Gleeson controlled the ball.
In the 50th minute, Juan Pablo Angel received the ball right outside Timbers' box, crossed to Cesar Romero who shot but Portland's goalkeeper, attentive, caught the ball killing the Red-and-White goal opportunity. Chivas USA again, in the 55th minute, had Michael Lahoud come from the right side and decided to shoot directly to the goal. Lahoud's shot barely passed above the crossbar to be counted as the Chivas USA's 10th shot at goal.
The timbers responded with three consecutive attacks during the 60th and 62nd minutes, reaching the Red-and-White's box and generating goal opportunities that were put to rest by Chivas USA's defensive line.
In the 69th minute, Michael Lahoud on an individual play from the right side of the pitch, attacked and entered Timbers' box and crossed to Cesar Romero who was late to his date with the ball and the Red-and-White missed the opportunity to score its second of the match.
The equalizer for the Timbers came in the 78th minute through a corner kick that went right inside the box of the Goats where Ryan Kawulok received the ball and beat GK Tim Melia who could not handle the shot. Slowly the ball crossed Melia's goal line, the referee whistled and pointed to the middle of the pitch validating Timbers' equalizer for the 1-1 final score.
