Sounders skirt by Timbers – Photo Recap

Photos by Max Aquino & Brandon Bleek Captions by Toby Dunkelberg

The Portland Timbers roll into Seattle to face off with their Casadia rivals in front of 64,000 fans. Both teams starting eleven were missing key players. Alonso and Dempsey for Seattle, Johnson and Chara for Portland. ECS showed up too with a massive JAWS themed display.

The Portland Timbers rolled into Seattle to face off with their Cascadia rivals in front of 64,000 fans. Both teams starting eleven were missing key players, Alonso and Dempsey for Seattle, Johnson and Chara for Portland. ECS marked the occasion with a massive JAWS themed display.

Things get underway quickly as Obafemi Martins scrappily picks up the ball and slots it by Kawarasey in the sixth minute

Things got underway quickly as Obafemi Martins scrappily picked up a loose ball inside the box and slotted it by Kawarasey in the sixth minute to put the Sounders up 1-0.

Portland recovers well from the goal as in the next thirty minutes, Adi, Melano, Valeri, Jewsbury, and Ridgewell are all denied by las ditch efforts from Seattle’s defense. Stefan Frei in particular makes four impressive saves to keep it 1-0

Portland recovered well, and in the next thirty minutes Adi, Melano, Valeri, Jewsbury, and Ridgewell are all kept off the scoresheet due to last ditch efforts from Seattle’s defense. Stefan Frei in particular stood out due to four impressive saves including an absolute stunner when the Timbers Melano had him one-on-one

In the 41st minute. Mears finds a streaking Martins in on goal. Kwarasey misses the ball and the ensuing collision earns Seattle a controversial penalty.

After more Portland dominance, in the 41st minute Tyrone Mears found a streaking Martins in on goal. Kwarasey cames off his line but misses the ball and the ensuing collision earned Seattle a controversial penalty.

After a minute of furious debate Brad Evans steps up and fires it on the left to make it 2-0 Seattle

After a minute of furious debate, Brad Evans stepped up and fired it on the left of Kwarasey to make it 2-0 Seattle

The first half ends with the Timbers dominating every offensive metric, except goals.

The rest of the first half ended quietly with the Timbers dominating every offensive metric, except goals.

The second half starts much the same way, with Portland continuing to create chances by going right up the Sounders gut and utilizing Adi's hold up play. But their inability to finish chances led to kept them off the scoresheet.

The second half started much the same way, with Portland continuing to create chances by going right up the Sounders gut and utilizing Adi’s hold up play. But their continued inability to finish chances kept them off the scoresheet.

That is until the 57th minute when Valeri’s corner is redirected down by Adi to the waiting foot of Jack Jewsbury who backheels his way to a Portland goal.

That is until the 57th minute when Valeri’s corner was redirected down by Adi to the waiting foot of Jack Jewsbury who backheeled his way to a Portland goal.

Portland continues to see chances as substitutes slowly make their way onto the field. The surprise appearance of Osvaldo Alonso on for Lamar Neagle settles things a little bit but the game gets noticeably chipper as players grow frustrated with the scoreline.

Portland continued to see chances as substitutes slowly made their way onto the field. The surprise appearance of Osvaldo Alonso on for Lamar Neagle settled things a little bit for Seattle’s midfield but the game got noticeably chipper as players grew frustrated with the scoreline.

The game opens up dramatically as Portland pushes for the equalizer and Seattle exploits the counter, but their choice to ceed possession leads to a couple close calls for the home team.

The game started to open up dramatically as Portland pushed for the equalizer and Seattle exploited the counter, but their choice to ceed possession led to a couple close calls for the home side.

Despite a point blank chance from Roldan, and Portland throwing every player forward the defenses hold and the game ends 2-1 Seattle. With this win the Sounders are in control of their destiny in the Cascade cup and need only to avoid a loss against Vancouver to bring it back for the first time since 2011.

Despite a point blank chance from Cristian Roldan and Portland throwing every player forward the defenses held and the game ended 2-1 Seattle.

With this win the Sounders are in control of their destiny in the Cascade cup and need only to avoid a loss against Vancouver to bring it back for the first time since 2011. The Timbers meanwhile hold on to their fifth place spot in the west.

With this the Timbers hold on to their fifth place spot in the west two points clear of Seattle who are in control of their own destiny in the Cascade Cup as they only need to avoid a loss against Vancouver on Sept. 19th to bring it back for the first time since 2011.