The Seattle Sounders returned to MLS play and were battered by their bitter rivals Portland Timbers by a score of 5-1. Despite a close first half, the wheels fell off the wagon to start the second half resulting in the Sounders’ worst ever loss to Portland.
Thunderstorms and rain hit Seattle early in the day, setting the stage for the biggest rivalry in Major League Soccer. Dating back to the 1970s, Seattle and Portland have always been enemies on the pitch.
The Sounders broke their curse last season against Portland, finally winning a home match against the Timbers for the first time since 2017. Last season’s match was decided by an early first-half goal by Pedro de la Vega, who was not available for this edition of the rivalry.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
In the 5th minute, the Sounders thought they had an early goal. Jesus Ferreira’s shot forced a save from Timbers’ keeper James Patemis, but the rebound fell right to the feet of Paul Rothrock. Rothrock smashed the ball into the net, but he had been well offside on the initial shot from Ferreira. However, it was positive to see early signs of life from the Sounders attack.
The response from the Timbers was solid in the following 10 minutes. Earning a pair of corners and forcing a nervy moment for Jackson Ragen and Andrew Thomas. A deflected shot from Brandon Bye in the 16th minute went wide of the goal, but it was their only real chance of the sequence.
The pressure from Portland peaked in the 19th minute. An outrageous cross from Jimer Fory found Kevin Kelsy in full sprint, as his header looped up and over Andrew Thomas and into the net. The Timbers early lead put extra pressure on the Sounders to respond.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
The Timbers nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute. A shot from Antony took a slight deflection off of Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, and nearly got up and over Thomas again. This time Thomas made the save, getting his fingers to the ball and tipping it over the bar.
The Sounders best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute. Paul Rothrock beat Finn Surman on the dribble before crossing it into the box. Jesus Ferreira one-touch passed the ball along to Kossa-Rienzi who was wide open at the far post. Pantemis made the save as the rebound fell to Snyder Brunell outside the box. Brunell struck the ball perfectly as the ball was destined to find the net, but Kamal Miller got his head in the way to block the shot. The Sounders would hope this moment wouldn’t cost them later on.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Portland threatened Thomas’ goal again in the 43rd minute. A set-piece chance from Ariel Lassiter curled around the wall and off the post. Despite pressure mounting from the Sounders, it was Portland who was closer to getting a second goal than Seattle getting an equalizer.
Half-time came as the Timbers seemed to be regaining some momentum. The Sounders walked off the pitch with a mostly silent crowd of supporters. A big second half is needed from the Rave Green if they want to turn this one around.
Danny Musovski replaced Jordan Morris to start the second half. The Sounders were still struggling to find goals from any of their center forwards, and Morris struggled against the Timbers’ sturdy back-line.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half saw a couple of half-chances for the Sounders. A last-ditch clearance denied what could’ve been a clear shot on goal for Paul Rothrock.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Portland capitalized on a set piece to double their lead in the 57th minute. A cross into the box found Brandon Bye, who flicked it on for Kamal Miller and the ball was just touched past Andrew Thomas to double the lead for the visitors.
The Sounders looked second-best for the first 60 minutes of the match, and the scoreline was fairly reflective of the match momentum. The Sounders would need a miracle to get back into this match.
Things went from bad to worse just minutes later. The Timbers just out paced the Sounders defense on a counter-attack. Right on the hour mark it was Cole Bassitt to make it 3-0 Portland.
Then things went from worse to just terrible. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi just got burnt twice in a span of three minutes by Da Costa. Andrew Thomas was left for dead despite saving the initial effort, Kevin Kelsy pounced on the rebound. A fourth goal for Portland in the 63rd minute.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
The fans began to exit the stadium at this point. An absolutely embarrassing performance from the Sounders. Sure, they are missing plenty of key players like both Roldans, Yeimar, and De le Vega. But this is unacceptable for any squad we field.
The Sounders attempted to show any signs of life after the 4th goal, but it really was just hopeful passes more than anything. The Timbers were closer to a 5th goal than the Sounders to one.
Jackson Ragen had a chance to get one on the board for the Sounders around the 77th minute. Once again James Pantemis made an impressive save to deny the Sounders a consolation goal.
In the 80th minute, the Sounders were awarded a penalty after a foul on Paul Rothrock by Antony. VAR intervened as the foul occurred outside the area, by a few inches at the most. The freekick was poorly taken and the Timbers pounced on a counter attack that was eventually thwarted.
After the Sounders penalty was chalked off, the next wave of fans departed. The hope of seeing just one goal was all that kept them in their seats.
Peter Kingston forced another big save from Pantemis in the 86th minute. Kingston was lively after coming into the match, potentially earning a start in the next fixture.
Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
The Sounders got a breakthrough off the corner kick. The ball from Albert Rusnak was headed home by Hassani Dotson for his first goal with his hometown club. The Sounders wouldn’t be shutout at the very least. A small consolation on an otherwise very disappointing night.
Just when you think you’ve been beaten enough, you get kicked while your down. Portland added a 5th goal in stoppage time to complete the beat down. Five goals allowed by the Sounders defense. Five. They had allowed just 11 in the prior 13 matches.
The referee mercifully ended the match and the Sounders limped off the pitch to a barrage of boos from the remaining home crowd, and a loud cheer from the traveling fans. The Sounders will have to find a way to regroup before they begin a three-match road trip starting in Austin next week.
Cover Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Sounders Starting XI:
(4-2-3-1)
Thomas
Kossa-Rienzi
Lopez
Ragen
Nouhou ©
Dotson
Brunell
Rusnak
Ferreira
Rothrock
Morris
Substitutions:
(46’)
ON: D. Musovski – OFF: J. Morris
(64’)
ON: O. De Rosario – OFF: S. Brunell
ON: P. Kingston – OFF: K. Kossa-Rienzi
ON: P. Arriola – OFF: J. Ferreira
(84’)
ON: S. Hawkins – OFF: A. Lopez
Scoring Summary:
SEA 0-1 POR – 19’ K. Kelsy (Ast: J. Fory)
SEA 0-2 POR – 56’ K. Miller (Ast: B. Bye)
SEA 0-3 POR – 60’ C. Bassitt (Ast: D. Da Costa)
SEA 0-4 POR – 63’ K. Kelsy (Ast: None)
SEA 1-4 POR – 87’ H. Dotson (Ast: A. Rusnak)
SEA 1-5 POR – 90+8’ A. Aravena (Ast: D. Da Costa)
