7/9/2022
Timbers spoil Sounders celebration with shutout victory
by Alex Benzegala
Seattle, WA – On a day where the Seattle Sounders celebrated one of the greatest achievements in franchise history, it was their arch-rival the Portland Timbers who spoiled the party, earning a 3-0 victory in front of over 47,000 fans at Lumen Field.
During the pre-game festivities, the Sounders celebrated their historic CCL championship that they earned earlier this year by unveiling the championship banner, among other festivities. Seattle hoped to bring the party to the pitch by defeating their arch-nemesis, but Portland had other plans.
It was the Sounders who were the aggressors early, controlling possession and creating a great scoring threat at the 15 minute mark, when Nicolas Lodeiro fired a shot in the box and Timbers goalkeeper Ajaz Ivacic made a key save to keep the match scoreless. On the ensuing Sounders corner kick, Jackson Ragen headed the ball towards the goal and a Timbers defender cleared the ball away from danger to thwart another Sounders chance.
Seattle continued to be dangerous in the attacking third, but it was Portland who caught the home team napping on a well developed counter attack to get the Timbers on the board in the 24th minute. Sebastian Blanco delivered an accurate cross in between two Sounders defenders to Polish striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who made a run to the far post and launched a tight angle header past Stefan Frei to make it 1-0.
The goal for Niezgoda was his 7th of the season, a team-high for Portland, and it was also the 46th headed goal by Portland since the start of the 2019 season, the most in the MLS during that time. It was the first headed goal that the Sounders have given up during that stretch.
Seattle continued to press the pace and the match had it´s first controversial moment in the first half when it appeared that Lodeiro was tripped in the box by defender Jose Carlos Van Ranki, but referee Chris Penso decided that there was no foul, enraging the home faithful.
In the final minutes before the half, the Sounders had two quality opportunities to tie the match, first in the 41st when a Christian Roldan cross from the left wing reached Albert Rusnak, who one timed it wide left. Seattle continued to pepper the Portland goal, when off a corner kick, Raul Ruidiaz rifled the ball off of the left post, keeping the game 1-0 at the half. Sounders defender Jackson Ragen received a yellow card in the final moments of the first half after leaping in the air and elbowing Niezgoda, which was significant because seconds into the 2nd half, Ragen received his 2nd yellow card, dropping the Sounders to 10 men.
Despite the disadvantage, Seattle continued to pour into the attack and create chances off of set pieces, but Portland was able to make timely challenges in important spots to keep their lead.
In the 82nd minute, a hand ball by the Sounders in the box resulted in a penalty and Santiago Moreno scored his 4th goal of the season to increase the lead to 2-0.
The Timbers added one more about a minute later off of yet another Portland counterattack that left second half substitute Dairon Asprilla alone in the box and his comfortable finish made it 3-0.
The loss was a difficult pill to swallow for Seattle, who dropped to 8-8-2, 26 points, who came into the match in sole possession of the final MLS playoff spot in 7th place. Portland was in 10th, but with the victory, improved to 6-6-8, 26 points, tied with the Sounders.
The loss for the Sounders was their 2nd straight home loss, while Portland increased their unbeaten streak at Lumen Field to 7 games. Seattle Head Coach Brian Schmetzer talked to the media about his team´s struggles at home against Portland.
“They come here, have our number, we go down there, have their number, I don´t have an answer for that. I really don’t ,” Schmetzer said. “ Even with the understanding that our opponent would be motivated because we have done something they have not, to fall on our face like that, really sucks.”
Seattle will travel to Nashville on Wednesday, while Portland hosts Vancouver next Sunday. Sounders will aim to avenge Saturday’s loss when they travel to Portland on August 26.
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