- Jackson Ragen (46')
- Jaroslaw Niezgoda (24')
- Santiago Moreno (82' Pen)
- Dairon Asprilla (85')
Timbers spoil Sounders' celebration day with 3-0 win
Jaroslaw Niezgoda had a goal and an assist as the Portland Timbers spoiled Seattle's celebration of its CONCACAF Champions League title, defeating the host Sounders 3-0 Saturday afternoon during Major League Soccer's Rivalry Week.
Santiago Moreno scored on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute and Dairon Asprilla clinched the victory with a goal on a counterattack three minutes later for the Timbers (6-6-8, 26 points), who extended their unbeaten streak to five matches (3-0-2).
- MLS on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games, replays (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
The Sounders (8-8-2, 26 points) played with 10 men for nearly the entire second half. Rookie defender Jackson Ragen received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, then was booked again less than 30 seconds after the intermission for a late sliding tackle on Eryk Williamson and was sent off, leaving the Sounders short-handed the rest of the way.
Despite the Sounders' dominance in the first half, holding 63.2 percent of the possession and an 11-3 edge in shots, the Timbers got the lone goal.
It came on a counterattack, as Yimmi Chara worked the ball down the middle of the pitch before passing to Sebastian Blanco on the right wing. Blanco dribbled to the top corner of the 18-yard box before sending a cross to Niezgoda near the end line outside the far post. Niezgoda's header from a sharp angle made its way just inside the left post.
The Sounders had several quality chances in the first half.
Ragen's header off a corner kick in the 16th minute was cleared off the goal line by Claudio Bravo.
Less than a minute later, Nicolas Lodeiro's shot from the middle of the penalty area hit unsuspecting Timbers goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic (two saves) in the left shoulder.
The Sounders appealed for a penalty kick late in the half when Lodeiro went down after a sliding tackle by Josecarlos Van Rankin, but no call was made.
And the Sounders' Raul Ruidiaz, who returned after missing four games with a hamstring injury, hit the left post in the 45th minute.
Stefan Frei made five saves for Seattle, which dropped its second straight match at home.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Chris Penso
MLS Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LA Galaxy | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | +6 | 18 |
Vancouver Whitecaps | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | +8 | 16 |
Real Salt Lake | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +7 | 15 |
Colorado Rapids | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +2 | 15 |
Minnesota United FC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 14 |
Houston Dynamo FC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +1 | 13 |
LAFC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | +1 | 12 |
Austin FC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 12 |
St. Louis CITY SC | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | +1 | 12 |
Sporting Kansas City | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | +1 | 11 |
Portland Timbers | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Seattle Sounders FC | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
FC Dallas | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -5 | 5 |
San Jose Earthquakes | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -11 | 3 |