A week ago, probably the loudest crowd in Michigan Bucks history watched the home team take down Detroit City FC in first round action in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Tuesday night, a much smaller and quieter crowd saw the Portland Timbers II defeat the Michigan Bucks 2-0 to advance to the third round of this year’s tournament.
US Open Cup: Portland Timbers II Advance Past Michigan Bucks 2-0
In what Jeremy Whiting describes in this recap of last week’s game as one of the strangest soccer environments in the US, the Bucks, who play in 4th division USL PDL, got off to a fast start and seemed primed for an upset of the Portland Timbers’ USL affiliate. The Bucks started quickly, forcing a save from Timbers keeper Justin Luthy in the opening moments and putting an early shot just wide of goal. Though the Timbers grew into the game as it progressed, most of their early possession was in their own half, as T2 forward Kharlton Belmar, who leads the team with five goals in USL play, struggled to get involved. It wasn’t so much Belmar’s fault as it was that the Timbers couldn’t break through the Bucks midfield without turning the ball over.
As the Timbers grew more comfortable, perhaps adjusting to the turf at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, their ball movement sped up and they began to settle in and hold possession much better. The T2 side was denied a goal off a corner kick midway through the second half, with the Timbers claiming the ball had crossed the line. The referee disagreed, and play continued. Near the end of the first half both teams had chances, but neither could capitalize, though the best chances fell to the Bucks, with Luthy watching a shot go just wide just before half.
The second half began much as the first had, with the Bucks enjoying the majority of possession and creating a few scoring chances. The Bucks would pay for their failure to capitalize when Belmar headed home a cross from Seth Casiple, making his T2 debut, to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. From there the game opened up as the Bucks pushed for an equalizer, giving Portland chances on the counter, which they exploited routinely down the left wing through Safiu Fatawu who was dangerous all night long. Again though, neither team could capitalize on multiple quality chances, with the Timbers missing the better as both Belmar and Fatawu were unable to extend the lead.
T2 right back Brent Richards, who got beat a few times in the first half down the wing, made a huge stop in the final minutes, tracking back to break up a Bucks counter that otherwise would have been a free look on goal. The resulting corner nearly brought the equalizer for the Bucks, as a headed attempt was just cleared by a Timbers defender. Luthy was then forced into another save before the danger was again cleared.
The Bucks nearly equalized again as the game entered stoppage time, with a cross finding a wide open Bucks forward for a shot, but the chance was blazed high over the goal. With the Bucks continuing to push numbers forward, desperate for the equalizer, Portland was able to hit on the counter as Casiple found Fatawu to finish off a late three-on-one break. For Casiple, it was an impressive debut to help Timbers 2 advance past Michigan Bucks.
The Timbers 2 side advances to face the winner of Seattle Sounders 2 vs. Kitsap Pumas, which takes place Wednesday night.
