The Portland Timbers would play Charlotte FC for the first time ever, and it was not a good first match as the Timbers fell 2-0. Nikola Petkovic and Enzo Copetti would have the goals for the hosts.
In the ninth minute, Charlotte would have the first good scoring chance of the match, but Nikola Petkovic‘s attempt from the top of the Timbers box slipped just wide right. In the 18th minute the hosts looked sure to take the lead when Petkovic had a one-on-one chance against Timbers keeper Maxime Crépeau, but the shot was over the crossbar.
It took until the 24th minute for the Timbers to get their first good scoring opportunity, when a header by Eryk Williamson was just wide left.
Then in the 30th minute, the hosts had another great chance with Patrick Agyemang fighting through the Timbers defense, but Crépeau made a nice save, tipping the shot just past the post. A few minutes later Agyemang had another great chance attempting to direct a pass from close-in, but Crépeau got just enough of his body on the attempt to send it wide.
In first half stoppage time it appeared Charlotte was going to have a penalty kick chance, but the VAR review showed Juan David Mosquera had not touched the player who went down (Iuri Tavares) at all, who ended up with a yellow card for simulation instead. Minutes later the Timbers had a great chance when Jonathan Rodríguez swiped the ball away from Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina, but the keeper recovered quickly and was able to block the shot by Rodríguez. The match would be scoreless at the half.
In the 54th minute, it would be Charlotte that would be on the board first, when Petkovic brilliantly slipped the ball through two Timbers defenders, then beat Crépeau put give Charlotte FC a 1-0 lead. Eight minutes later, Cristhian Paredes had a brilliant chance for the Timbers with a shot from 30 yards out that Kahlina just managed to tip over the bar. In the 68th minute Crépeau made a nice kick save after a Charlotte corner kick rebounded right in front of him.
In the 84th minute the Timbers had a great chance with a free kick just outside the Charlotte box, but the attempt by Rodríguez was over the crossbar.
Once again the Timbers allowed a goal in stoppage time, this time it was Enzo Copetti beating Zac McGraw and having an open run towards the Timbers goal, and beat Crépeau with a low shot to make it 2-0 for the home side, which would be the final score.
