Darlington Nagbe on the ball

Kasey Keller and Sigi Schmid received recognition for their election to the US Soccer Hall of Fame,which was a fitting tribute before a game that is all about tradition and where none of the sentiment is manufactured.

In the event, this game lacked much of the passion of previous encounters. Given his recent majestic finishing, Portland looked positively paralysed every time he got the ball. Their sole movement were to back off and point their fingers into various open spaces they prayed someone would cover.

In the first half, Portland in possession were rudderless and too easily robbed. Possession was surrendered too easily. Nonetheless they reached the interval on level terms mostly due to the ineptitude of their opposition.

Too many of Sounders better players were out of sorts or off form. Osvaldo Alonso was below his best with Clint Dempsey a non-factor in the first half.

Whereas Portland may have had some justification for exhibiting terror whenever Martins got the ball, the respect Seattle showed Darington Nagbe was a little out of proportion to how dangerous he is. He’s good, but not good enough to back off as many did or commit a series of petty fouls as Alonso did. The Cuban’s booking for persistent fouling could have come much sooner.

If Seattle were the better side in a lacklustre fist half, Portland improved the greater after the break and seemed to grow in confidence. Max Urruti had replaced Fanendo Adi in the starting line up and Portland’s finishing was as poor as you’d expect with a creative player, but not an undiluted goalscorer, as their main threat.

Lamar Neagle shoots

However it was the Timbers’ increasing dominance that forced Sounders coach Sigi Schmid into the change that won he game. Andy Rose replaced the quiet Lamar Neagle, another man who will forget this game quickly, and though the Aussie scuffed his 77th minute shot, it caused Adam Kwarasey in the Timbers goal enough of an issue that he spilled it to an onrushing Dempsey who poked it in from inches.

With ten minutes left, Adi hit the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Portland would have probably deserved a draw – just – but on this form, they cannot get Diego Valeri fit quick enough.

Sounders will be pleased to keep a clean sheet with Chad Marshall missing but will hope that performances improve when they are facing better sides. Nonetheless, with Dallas, Vancouver and LA all dropping points, the Western Conference table will be as pretty to look at as it has been all season.

Seattle in fact were the only winners in the entire conference this weekend.

Match recap, ratings and photos to follow.