Diego Valeri scores twice in Portland Timber win vs. Seattle Sounders

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:58 am

PORTLAND, Oregon -- Diego Valeri scored goals on either side of halftime to give the Portland Timbers a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

The win extended Portland's MLS unbeaten streak to nine games (4-0-5).

Valeri's first came on the brink of halftime, as he combined with Lucas Melano to move the ball down the left wing. Melano eventually threaded a pass through three Seattle defenders into the path of Valeri, who sent a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

The lead was doubled five minutes into the second half with Valeri's ninth goal of the season. After receiving a cross-field pass from Jermaine Taylor, Valeri worked past defender Joevin Jones near the goal line and sliced a shot with the outside of his foot over Frei, off the far post, and in.

In the 59th minute, Seattle's Chad Marshall headed in Andreas Ivanschitz's corner kick for his third goal. But Portland restored the two-goal advantage five minutes later on Fanendo Adi's goal.

Melano carried the ball from box to box before sliding a pass across to Adi, who chipped a shot over Frei for his 10th goal of the season.

Portland's Jake Gleeson finished with five saves to earn his sixth win of the season.

Seattle has lost seven of its last 10 league matches (2-7-1) and was missing captain Clint Dempsey. The national team star was suspended after receiving a red card in Wednesday's match against FC Dallas.