Seattle Sounders Defeat Portland Timbers at CenturyLink Field
The Portland Timbers fall 3-1 to the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field as the clubs prepare for back-to-back league meetings at Providence Park on Sunday. Clint Dempsey’s brace led the home side to a late lead that was extended by Cristian Roldan in the 83rd minute. Fanendo Adi brought his scoring tally to 12 on the year in stoppage time, but the scoreline was too heavy to overcome as the Timbers record their second loss to Seattle in five matches.
MLS Soccer News: The Portland Timbers fell 3-1 against Seattle Sounders FC before 53,302 fans at CenturyLink Field on Sunday night after surrendering three second-half goals to the home side. The Timbers will face Sounders FC in the second of back-to-back league meetings against Seattle at Providence Park on Sunday, Aug. 28.
The result is the Timbers’ (8-10-8, 32 points) second loss to Seattle in five games played across all competitions (3-2-0) since June 16, 2015, Portland sits in first place in the Cascadia Cup standings, ranking tied for the lead with Vancouver Whitecaps FC with six points.
Creating several chances to score in the first half, the Timbers produced a goal-scoring opportunity in the 16th minute of play when midfielder Diego Valeri whipped in a dangerous cross into the box, finding defender Liam Ridgewell, who narrowly missed the target with his first-time effort. One minute later, Valeri floated a pass in behind Seattle’s backline, releasing forward Jack McInerney inside the 18-yard box. McInerney attempted to lob the ball back across the face of goal, just missing defender Alvas Powell at the far post.
In the 23rd minute, the Timbers broke free on the counter attack through midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who played the ball out wide to McInerney, With a cross back into the area, McInerney found Valeri, whose shot went just high of the target.
With 13 shots in the second half, Portland created two strong chances to open the second 45, including Valeri’s effort at the near post in the 56th minute, which forced a tough save from Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, while McInerney also forced a strong save from Frei three minutes later with a low effort on target.
Seattle (9-12-3, 30pts) took the lead in the 61st minute when forward Clint Dempsey converted from the penalty spot after Timbers defender Vytas was whistled for a foul just inside the 18-yard box. Twenty minutes later, Sounders FC doubled their lead when Dempsey scored from outside the 18-yard box, finishing into the bottom right corner in the 80th minute, before Cristian Roldan added their third and final with a header from a set piece in the 83rd minute.
The Timbers pulled a goal back in the 93rd minute when forward Fanendo Adi scored his 12th goal of the season from inside the box, finishing Powell’s pass with a well-placed shot from just outside the six-yard box. The Timbers’ goal came after midfielder Jack Barmby’s strike from distance rattled off the post, landing on the right side of the box to Powell, who took a touch before connecting with Adi.
Responding to Seattle’s opening goal, the Timbers came close to scoring in the 63rd minute when McInerney’s header from a corner kick forced Frei to produce an a fingertip save, just managing to push the danger away. Less than five minutes later, Valeri won the ball deep in Seattle’s half, driving at the defense before pulling the ball across to an unmarked McInerney, who had his strike saved by Frei.
Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, who made three saves throughout the match, produced consecutive saves in a span of five minutes in the first half, first coming off his line to deflect forward Jordan Morris’ effort wide before making a diving save to push midfielder Osvaldo Alonso’s powerful chance away for a corner.
Next up, Portland will return to Providence Park to play host to Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, Aug. 28, beginning at 2 p.m. (Pacific).
Source/Photo Credit: Portland Timbers
