MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Blanked at Portland Timbers 1-0

Published on October 14, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Kalif Alhassan tallied late in the first half as Seattle Sounders FC (15-11-6, 51 points) fell to the Portland Timbers (13-5-14, 53 points) on Sunday night at JELD-WEN Field. The loss snapped Seattle's four-game (2-0-2) unbeaten run against the Timbers and awarded the Vancouver Whitecaps FC the 2013 Cascadia Cup.

Sounders FC currently sits third in the Western Conference and fifth in the race for the Supporters' Shield, just two points from the top spot with two games remaining.

Portland scored the game's lone goal just before the halftime whistle. Following a Seattle clearance, the ball fell to Alhassan at the top of the box and he fired a shot inside the bottom left corner to give the Timbers the 1-nil lead.

Seattle had a pair of dangerous chances early in the first half. In the 13th minute, Mauro Rosales swung a free kick into the box that Lamar Neagle headed toward the upper corner, but Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made a diving save to tip it wide. Moments later, Adam Moffat sent a cross to the six-yard box but Clint Dempsey's headed attempt caromed off the crossbar.

Seattle goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, making his first start since August 3, made two crucial stops near the end of the first half. In the 39th minute, Darlington Nagbe rocketed a shot from inside the box that Hahnemann deflected away. One minute later, Nagbe got behind the Seattle defense on a breakaway but Hahnemann came off his line to block the shot before it was cleared by Osvaldo Alonso.

Sounders FC nearly netted a stoppage time equalizer when second-half substitute Steve Zakuani's shot hit the crossbar. After a blocked shot, the ball fell to Zakuani but his shot deflected off a defender and bounced off the crossbar.

An altercation in the 72nd minute lead to a yellow card caution issued to Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and a red card ejection to Alonso. Seattle played the final 16 minutes of the match down a man.

Dempsey returned to the starting lineup after missing the past four games with a hamstring injury. Leo Gonzalez also returned to the lineup after missing the past three games due to hip injury.

Sounders FC will visit FC Dallas next Saturday in the final road match of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. PT from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

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