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The Portland Timbers<\/a> chase another Leagues Cup<\/a> statement when they host LIGA MX powerhouse Club Am\u00e9rica in Sunday’s marquee Phase One matchup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In Phase One, each team plays three matches against opponents from the opposite league. The top four clubs from each league-specific table advance to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The tournament champion will be crowned on Sept. 6. Additionally, the top three finishers qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Club Am\u00e9rica opened their Leagues Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory<\/a> over San Diego FC<\/a> in Mexico City.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Former\u00a0LAFC<\/a> winger Brian Rodr\u00edguez, \u00c9rick S\u00e1nchez and Isa\u00edas Violante all scored in the first half as the LIGA MX giants began Phase One on the right foot.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Club Am\u00e9rica are one of North America’s biggest clubs and enter every competition expecting to compete for trophies.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Led by head coach Guillermo Almada, Las \u00c1guilas are perennial LIGA MX contenders with one of the continent’s largest fanbases and deepest trophy cases, making them a consistent threat to win tournaments like Leagues Cup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Timbers opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a comprehensive 5-2 victory<\/a> over Club Puebla.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ariel Lassiter<\/a> and Cole Bassett<\/a> each scored twice, while David Da Costa<\/a> contributed 1g\/2a as Portland turned heads on Matchday 1.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Portland have gone five games unbeaten (4W-0L-1D) since the World Cup break, including a season sweep of Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n That’s come under interim coach Jack Cassidy, who will soon be replaced by Mart\u00ed Cifuentes<\/a>. The Spanish manager last led English side Leicester City.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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