The Tacoma Defiance will face the Portland Timbers tonight in the fourth round of the US OPEN CUP, marking a notable moment for the MLS Next Pro league. This match represents the first time an MLS Next Pro affiliate club has advanced to play an MLS parent club in the tournament's history.
The Defiance earned their place by winning three consecutive matches against other lower-division sides. They stand as the last team remaining from the MLS Next Pro level in this year's competition.
This contest adds another chapter to the history between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers organizations in the Open Cup. While the parent Sounders club holds a historical advantage in previous tournament meetings, this is the first encounter featuring an affiliate club against its senior counterpart. The game takes place at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, a venue with extensive Open Cup history for the Sounders organization dating back two decades.
Tacoma's roster for Open Cup matches has often included players loaned from the Sounders first team. Previous rounds saw appearances from players like Jacob Castro, Cody Baker, and Andrew Thomas. The potential exists for additional first-team players to be available for selection tonight, though some players who regularly feature for the senior squad are less likely to be loaned down.
Even without extensive first-team reinforcements, the Defiance have demonstrated capability. They hold a strong record in MLS Next Pro league play and overall, averaging over three goals per game. Key offensive production has come from players such as Osaze De Rosario and Yu Tsukanome.
Portland is expected to field a lineup primarily composed of veteran reserves for the tournament match. This could include players like Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, and former Sounders player Trey Muse. The Timbers' organization has not secured an Open Cup victory since 2019, a year they reached the semifinals.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 PM Pacific Time. Those wishing to follow the game can find broadcast details including streaming options Paramount+. Additional context regarding the team's tournament run and the significance of the match can be found in a recent log entry. A preview and match thread detailing the game's setup is available gamethread. One player's path from a previous tournament run with the Sounders to this year's Defiance squad was recently highlighted as an icon.
