Portland Timbers 3:1 Club Tijuana: Leagues Cup Match Result

Match report

And here's the thing about Portland's performance — they went for the jugular from the opening whistle and never looked back. The hosts secured a comfortable 3:1 victory over Tijuana in the Group Stage of the Cup competition on August 14, 2026. Mourad El Ghezouani, Kevin Kelsy and Antony Alves found the net for the home side as they controlled proceedings throughout.

El Ghezouani opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalising on a moment of space in the penalty area. Kelsy doubled the advantage just before half-time, slotting home after a well-worked move down the left flank. Tijuana's Jesús Vega picked up a yellow card in the 36th minute as the visitors tried to keep things tight.

By then the yellow cards were accumulating at a steady rate. Kamal Miller and Kristoffer Velde both went into the book before the break, with Velde collecting a second caution moments later. The management brought on Cole Bassett to replace Velde in the 56th minute, while Tijuana made three changes including bringing on Joban González.

Antony Alves restored Portland's two-goal cushion in the 64th minute, and the hosts had the game won inside twenty minutes. More substitutions followed, with Kevin Kelsy making way for David Pereira Da Costa. The visitors pushed for a late response but couldn't find their rhythm against a well-organised back line.

The numbers told the story of a one-sided affair. Portland held 67 per cent possession and registered eight shots on target compared to Tijuana's three. The hosts created four big chances and completed 564 passes, while the visitors managed just 243 successful passes with only two big chances created.

The result leaves Portland in a strong position in the group standings. Tijuana's recent form has been poor, with defeats to San Diego and Austin in their last two outings. This win could be crucial for Portland's ambitions in the competition.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 67 – 33

Shots on target 8 – 3

Shots off target 3 – 3

Big chances 4 – 2

⚽ 19' Mourad El Ghezouani — Goal 🟨 36' Jesús Vega — Yellow card ⚽ 40' Kevin Kelsy — Goal 🟨 41' Kamal Miller — Yellow card 🟨 45+2' Kristoffer Velde — Yellow card 🟨 45+3' K. Velde — Yellow card ⇄ 56' Kristoffer Velde — Substitution ⇄ 56' Cole Bassett — Substitution ⇄ 60' Mourad El Ghezouani — Substitution ⇄ 60' Frank Boya — Substitution ⇄ 60' Joban González — Substitution ⚽ 64' Antony Alves — Goal ⇄ 66' Kevin Kelsy — Substitution ⇄ 66' David Pereira Da Costa — Substitution ⚽ 76' Ariel Lassiter — Goal ⚽ 77' A. Lassiter — Goal ⇄ 81' Jímer Fory — Substitution ⇄ 87' Yael Padilla — Substitution ⇄ 87' Jesús Vega — Substitution 🟨 89' Joao Ortíz — Yellow card

Match events

19' Club Tijuana Goal Mourad El Ghezouani assist: Jesús Vega
36' Club Tijuana Yellow card Jesús Vega
40' Portland Timbers Goal Kevin Kelsy assist: Jímer Fory
41' Portland Timbers Yellow card Kamal Miller
45+2' Portland Timbers Yellow card Kristoffer Velde
45+3' Portland Timbers Yellow card K. Velde
56' Portland Timbers Substitution Kristoffer Velde off: Antony Alves
56' Portland Timbers Substitution Cole Bassett off: Omir Fernandez
60' Club Tijuana Substitution Mourad El Ghezouani off: Elias Manoel
60' Club Tijuana Substitution Frank Boya off: Adonis Preciado
60' Club Tijuana Substitution Joban González off: Francisco González
64' Portland Timbers Goal Antony Alves assist: Kevin Kelsy
66' Portland Timbers Substitution Kevin Kelsy off: Vincent Janssen
66' Portland Timbers Substitution David Pereira Da Costa off: Joao Ortíz
76' Portland Timbers Goal Ariel Lassiter assist: Antony Alves
77' Portland Timbers Goal A. Lassiter assist: Antony
81' Portland Timbers Substitution Jímer Fory off: Sawyer Jura
87' Club Tijuana Substitution Yael Padilla off: David Orduño
87' Club Tijuana Substitution Jesús Vega off: Ian Olvera
89' Portland Timbers Yellow card Joao Ortíz

Statistics

67 Possession, % 33

8 Shots on target 3

3 Shots off target 3

4 Big chances 2

124 Attacks 49

5 Corners 1

14 Fouls 11

11 Free kicks 14

2 Offsides 2

3 Yellow cards 1

0 Red cards 0

4 Goal kicks 5

13 Throw-ins 19

All statistics

12/2157% Aerial duels 9/2143%

100 Backward passes 62

5 Blocked shots 2

13 Clearances 25

3/2015% Crosses 3/1127%

3/933% Dribbles 6/1250%

51 Failed passes 58

1 Goalkeeper saves 5

9 Interceptions 8

12 Key passes 7

21/3070% Long passes 36/6159%

164 Passes into the final third 29

449 Passes in the opposition half 120

186 Passes in own half 192

0.50 Shot accuracy 0.38

8 Shots from outside the box 2

8 Shots inside the box 6

6/967% Tackles 5/1050%

615 Total passes 301

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