Soccer
\n Portland Timbers make Leagues Cup statement with Puebla rout
\n <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\nOne of the biggest opening statements of Leagues Cup<\/a> 2026 came on Thursday night, courtesy of the Portland Timbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nThe Timbers soared to the top of the MLS Phase One standings thanks to a 5-2 rout<\/a> of Club Puebla at Providence Park.\u00a0<\/p>\nIn a competition that awards just four spots per league table (MLS & LIGA MX) to the quarterfinals, the lopsided result solidifies Portland as an early contender to advance to the knockout rounds and make a possible run at the trophy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\nCan’t \ud83d\udd7a stop \ud83d\udd7a scoring \ud83d\udd7a pic.twitter.com\/kZF1r96tal<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\nStars show up<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Three players in particular were at the heart of the action, notching multiple goal involvements in the blowout victory.<\/p>\n
\nAriel Lassiter<\/a> opened the scoring early, before Cole Bassett<\/a> netted a brace on either side of David Da Costa<\/a>‘s goal, giving the Timbers a 4-1 halftime lead.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLassiter closed things out with a brace of his own just before the hour mark. In addition to his goal, Da Costa contributed two assists.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously when I take a step back, it\u2019s a good evening all around,\u201d interim head coach Jack Cassidy said postgame. \u201cThe players have created a real togetherness. There\u2019s a real good energy in the group.<\/p>\n
“We said nine weeks ago that we wanted to create a higher bar, and we\u2019ve done that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\nLeagues Cup contender?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
One of MLS’s hottest teams coming into Leagues Cup, Portland built on their four-game undefeated streak (3W-0L-1D) in league play with a dominant display on the international stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the competition won’t get any easier. First, the Timbers will host LIGA MX giants Club Am\u00e9rica on Sunday (10:15 pm ET | Apple TV<\/a>; FS1, Univision) before closing out Phase One action on Aug. 13 against Gilberto Mora and Club Tijuana.\u00a0<\/p>\nMLS teams will likely need at least seven points from the three matches to advance to the knockout rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Timbers will like their chances, especially with all three of their Phase One games taking place at Providence Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been an amazing energy in the stadium since we\u2019ve had these home games,\u201d said Cassidy. \u201cI think the players\u2019 performances have generated that energy. The noise, the atmosphere, it makes a massive difference.<\/p>\n
“The home games have just filled us with so much energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
One of the biggest opening statements of Leagues Cup<\/a> 2026 came on Thursday night, courtesy of the Portland Timbers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Timbers soared to the top of the MLS Phase One standings thanks to a 5-2 rout<\/a> of Club Puebla at Providence Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a competition that awards just four spots per league table (MLS & LIGA MX) to the quarterfinals, the lopsided result solidifies Portland as an early contender to advance to the knockout rounds and make a possible run at the trophy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Can’t \ud83d\udd7a stop \ud83d\udd7a scoring \ud83d\udd7a pic.twitter.com\/kZF1r96tal<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Three players in particular were at the heart of the action, notching multiple goal involvements in the blowout victory.<\/p>\n Ariel Lassiter<\/a> opened the scoring early, before Cole Bassett<\/a> netted a brace on either side of David Da Costa<\/a>‘s goal, giving the Timbers a 4-1 halftime lead.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lassiter closed things out with a brace of his own just before the hour mark. In addition to his goal, Da Costa contributed two assists.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously when I take a step back, it\u2019s a good evening all around,\u201d interim head coach Jack Cassidy said postgame. \u201cThe players have created a real togetherness. There\u2019s a real good energy in the group.<\/p>\n “We said nine weeks ago that we wanted to create a higher bar, and we\u2019ve done that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n One of MLS’s hottest teams coming into Leagues Cup, Portland built on their four-game undefeated streak (3W-0L-1D) in league play with a dominant display on the international stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, the competition won’t get any easier. First, the Timbers will host LIGA MX giants Club Am\u00e9rica on Sunday (10:15 pm ET | Apple TV<\/a>; FS1, Univision) before closing out Phase One action on Aug. 13 against Gilberto Mora and Club Tijuana.\u00a0<\/p>\n MLS teams will likely need at least seven points from the three matches to advance to the knockout rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Timbers will like their chances, especially with all three of their Phase One games taking place at Providence Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been an amazing energy in the stadium since we\u2019ve had these home games,\u201d said Cassidy. \u201cI think the players\u2019 performances have generated that energy. The noise, the atmosphere, it makes a massive difference.<\/p>\n “The home games have just filled us with so much energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Stars show up<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Leagues Cup contender?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n