Loons beat Timbers, book USOC final vs. Atlanta

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:21 am

Mason Toye's 64th-minute goal broke a tie and led Minnesota United to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Loons will travel to face Atlanta United in the final on Aug. 27. Both teams will be competing in the U.S. Open Cup title game for the first time.

Atlanta United won 2-0 at Orlando City on Tuesday in the first semifinal.

With the score 1-1 on Wednesday, Minnesota United's Kevin Molino fired a long ball from midway in his own half over the top of the Portland defense. Toye, one-on-one with a defender, took one touch to control the ball midway through the Timbers' half. He then ran onto the ball near the top of the penalty area and chipped a shot over Timbers goalie Steve Clark and into the far corner of the net.

Darwin Quintero
Darwin Quintero
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Loons opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on a Darwin Quintero penalty shot. The Timbers leveled the score on a Brian Fernandez goal in first-half stoppage time.

Clark finished with four saves while Minnesota United goalkeeper Vito Mannone stopped six shots.