After a horrible performance against the Sounders two weeks ago, then another terrible performance in Austin last week, it was a frightening trip to Seattle to play the Sounders on Sunday. But the Timbers took advantage of the inexperience of the Sounders goalkeeper twice, with Felipe Mora setting up Sebastián Blanco for a goal, and then adding a stoppage time chip of the Sounders keeper for a 2-0 win.
The Timbers actually controlled much of the first half, and in just the sixth minute, nearly grabbed an early lead when Dairon Asprilla‘s blast from just outside the box rattled off the post, but was then cleared by the Sounders defense. In the 10th minute, Portland’s Eryk Williamson went down with a no-contact injury that was later confirmed as a torn ACL. Neither team had a good chance for the rest of the half, and the score was 0-0 at the break.
Seattle came out of halftime more in control of the run of play, and in the 53rd minute, Seattle’s João Paulo nearly put the Sounders into the lead when his blast was tipped just up and off the crossbar by Steve Clark. But a mistake by Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland in the 58th minute put the Timbers into the lead. Felipe Mora was able to slip past the Seattle keeper and though he was at too tight an angle to shoot, he was able to slip a pass to a charging Sebastián Blanco, who tapped into the open net, and the Timbers had a 1-0 lead.
The Timbers grabbing the lead opened up a series of attacks from the Sounders, and just three minute later, Shane O’Neill‘s header was off the post, and a quick rebound by Kelyn Rowe rebounded off Diego Chará.
Seattle had corner kick after corner kick throughout the second half, and slipped a shot just past the post in the 62nd minute, and in the 85th minute, the Sounders struck the crossbar yet again, this time on a shot by Cristian Roldan. In stoppage time, Roldan hit the post again, this time on a header attempt.
Then, the Timbers took advantage of another Cleveland mistake in stoppage time when he came out of his box and failed to clear the ball. Mora would steal the ball from the lone defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade and chipped Cleveland for the goal and a 2-0 Timbers lead, which would be the final score.
Steve Clark had five saves for the Timbers, while Stefan Cleveland recorded no saves for Seattle.
MATCH RECAP | Seattle Sounders FC 0, Portland Timbers 2 | Timbers website
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Seattle Sounders FC 0, Portland Timbers 2 | Aug. 29, 2021 | Timbers website
