MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Loses Back-And-Forth Cascadia Cup Heartbreaker against Portland

Published on June 30, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Nicolas Lodeiro of Seattle Sounders FC
Nicolas Lodeiro of Seattle Sounders FC
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Charis Wilson / Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Despite second-half goals from Victor Rodríguez and Chad Marshall, Seattle Sounders FC (3-9-3, 12 points) was unable to slow down the Portland Timbers (7-3-5, 26 points) on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field in a 3-2 loss for the Rave Green. Nicolás Lodeiro assisted on both Seattle goals - good for his third and fourth helpers of the campaign - while backup goalkeeper Bryan Meredith stepped in for the injured Stefan Frei with three saves in a hard-fought performance. Seattle moves to 7-1-3 against the Timbers at CenturyLink Field since the Oregon club joined Sounders FC in MLS. All-time, the two clubs have now played 101 matches against one another in all competitions dating back to 1975, with Seattle leading the all-time series dating back to the North American Soccer League with an overall record of 50-37-14.

Portland found the match's opening goal in the 48th minute of play, with central defender Larrys Maibala heading home a Diego Valeri corner-kick. The set-piece goal was Maibala's third strike of 2018.

Seattle counterpunched just three minutes after Portland's initial goal, with Uruguayan playmaker Lodeiro slotting a cutting through ball over 30 yards for an onrushing Rodríguez. The Spaniard's run toward Portland's far post was perfectly timed, with Timbers netminder Jeff Attinella powerless to stop Rodríguez's conversion. For Lodeiro, the decisive pass was his third assist of the campaign, while the goal was Rodríguez's first of 2018.

Sounders FC's lead was short-lived, with Samuel Armenteros driving Portland's attack down the right flank, getting inside of Seattle defender Waylon Francis for a smooth finish at Bryan Meredith's far post in the 57th minute. The goal was Armenteros' fourth of the season, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead heading into the match's final act.

Seattle hit back once again, as Chad Marshall rose to meet a Lodeiro corner-kick in the 68th minute, good for the equalizing goal and the centerback's first tally of the season. For Lodeiro, the assist was his second of the day, good for his fourth multi-assist performance with the Rave Green since joining the club midway through the 2016 season.

Portland retook the lead in the 74th minute of play with another corner-kick goal of their own, as Mabiala bagged his second of the contest. The Congolese defender rose to meet Valeri's service, vaulting Portland back into a 3-2 lead. Valeri - Portland's Argentine 2017 MLS Most Valuable Player - finished the day with all three Portland assists.

After today's hard-fought Cascadia Cup contest, Seattle hits the road twice over the next week, beginning with an Independence Day showdown at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against Western Conference foe Colorado on July 4 (6:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Brian Schmetzer's side then heads across the country for a matchup at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution on Saturday, July 7 (4:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

With the result, Sounders FC falls to 3-9-3 on the season, currently tied for 10th place in the Western Conference with 12 points.

The loss is Seattle's first against Portland in 10 regular-season matches at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC is now 7-1-3 all-time at home against the Timbers in MLS regular-season play.

Portland takes an early lead in the 2018 Cascadia Cup standings, with Saturday's fixture being the first match of the season that will count in the standings. Due to an imbalanced schedule, the May 13 result did not count toward the Cascadia Cup.

Victor Rodríguez scored his first goal of the season and fourth of his MLS career, including postseason play. The strike was his first since 11/30/17, a 3-0 victory over Houston in the Western Conference Championship. He last scored in the regular season in a 4-0 win vs. Dallas on 10/15/17.

Chad Marshall's goal was his first of the season and 23rd of his career. He last scored on 8/20/17 in a 2-1 win vs. Minnesota.

Nicolás Lodeiro's multi-assist game was his first of the season and fourth of his MLS career. He last earned two assists on 9/27/17 in a 3-0 win vs. Vancouver. Lodeiro recorded his first two assists of the season in back-to-back games on April 15 at Sporting Kansas City and April 22 vs. Minnesota.

Bryan Meredith made his first MLS start since 2012 and recorded three saves.

Saturday marked the 101st all-time meeting between Seattle and Portland dating back to 1975. Across five different leagues and competitions, Seattle leads the all-time series with a record of 50-37-14.

Prior to kickoff of today's match, new Designated Player Raúl Ruidíaz was presented his new No. 9 jersey and introduced to the fans.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Portland Timbers 3

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistants: Eduardo Mariscal, Ian Anderson

Fourth Official: Sorin Stoica

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 47,521

Weather: 65 degrees and cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

POR - Larrys Mabiala (Diego Valeri) 48'

SEA - Victor Rodríguez (Nicolás Lodeiro) 51'

POR - Samuel Armenteros (Diego Valeri) 57'

SEA - Chad Marshall (Nicolás Lodeiro) 68'

POR - Larrys Mabiala (Diego Valeri) 74'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA - Nouhou (caution) 85'

POR - Zarek Valentine (caution) 87'

SEA - Clint Dempsey (caution) 89'

SEA - Kim Kee-hee (caution) 90'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Bryan Meredith; Jordan McCrary (Harry Shipp 81'), Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Waylon Francis (Nouhou 81'); Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Victor Rodríguez, Clint Dempsey; Will Bruin

Substitutes not used: Zac Lubin, Alex Roldan, Jordy Delem, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Lamar Neagle

Total shots: 10 (Rodríguez, 3)

Shots on goal: 5 (Rodríguez, 2)

Fouls: 13 (Dempsey, 3)

Offside: 1 (Bruin, 1)

Corner-kicks: 7 (Lodeiro, 6)

Saves: 3 (Meredith, 3)

Portland Timbers - Jeff Attinella; Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Julio Cascante, Zarek Valentin; Lawrence Olum, Diego Chara, Andres Flores, Diego Valeri - captain, Dairon Asprilla (Bill Tuiloma 84'); Samuel Armenteros

Substitutes not used: Jake Gleeson, Vytas Andriuskevicius, Sebastian Blanco, Jeremy Ebobisse, Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson

Total shots: 16 (Three players, 4)

Shots on goal: 6 (Mabiala, 4)

Fouls: 16 (Chara, 3)

Offside: 1 (Asprilla, 1)

Corner-kicks: 9 (Valeri, 9)

Saves: 3 (Attinella, 3)

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Images from this story

Nicolas Lodeiro of Seattle Sounders FC
Nicolas Lodeiro of Seattle Sounders FC
(Charis Wilson / Sounders FC)		   



Major League Soccer Stories from June 30, 2018


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