The Portland Timbers fell 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday in a match that was very promising for a long time, then had an unbelievable swing in a short time, then turned scary when they lost their third goalkeeper so far this season. Raul Ruidiaz and Freddy Montero had the goals for Seattle while Bill Tuiloma had a late free kick goal for the Timbers that just wasn’t enough.
The Timbers controlled large parts of the first half but each team only managed a single good chance at goal, but both chances were well wide of net.
The second half started out more intense than the first, and in the 55th minute it looked like the Timbers pressure had finally paid off, when Jeremy Ebobisse was fouled in the box, just after an Eryk Williamson steal of a lazy Seattle pass, and the Timbers had the penalty kick chance to take the lead.
Diego Valeri stepped up to take the kick but his effort was kicked out by Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. But the referee determined Frei was off his line to early and Valeri got a second chance from the spot. But this time his chance was off the left post and though he knocked in the rebound, but by rule he cannot, so the score remained 0-0.
But not for long. Just five minutes later, Seattle got a spot kick of their own, and Raul Ruidiaz made no mistake as he sent Jeff Attinella the wrong way, and Seattle was up by a 1-0 score.
Just a few minutes later, things turned even more sour for the Timbers when Attinella appeared to injure his left hip on a simple pass out of his area, and the Timbers are now down to their fourth string keeper as Hunter Sulte finished the game in goal.
Just a few minutes after he entered, Sulte was not able to get to a Seattle free kick he charged off his line to catch, as Seattle’s Freddy Montero got to it first to head it home, and Seattle had a 2-0 lead.
The Timbers did get one back in stoppage time, as Bill Tuiloma stepped up to take a free kick, and curled his shot just inside the left post to pull the Timbers a goal closer at 2-1, but the Timbers got no further chances.
The Timbers now travel for a road match at San Jose next weekend.
MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2 | May 9, 2021 | Timbers website
HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers FC 1, Sounders FC 2 | May 9, 2021 | Timbers website
