MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Heads Home to Seattle with Away Goal in Hand Following 2-1 Loss in Portland to Open MLS Western Conference Semifinals

Published on November 4, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


PORTLAND, OREGON - Seattle Sounders FC began its 2018 postseason campaign with a 2-1 loss in a fiery contest in Portland on Sunday afternoon in front of 21,144 fans at Providence Park and a national television audience via ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The Rave Green secured a pivotal away goal in the two-legged Western Conference Semifinals courtesy of striker Raúl Ruidíaz, with the series now shifting north to the Emerald City on Thursday, November 8. Thursday's contest will be shown live on FS1. Sunday's match marked just the second time the Cascadia rivals have met in MLS postseason play, as Seattle and Portland previously faced off in 2013. This series is the fifth time Seattle and Portland have met in postseason play across all eras (1975, 2004, 2005, 2013), with the two sides each advancing twice previously. Dating back to 1975, Seattle and Portland have met 103 times, with Sounders FC leading the all-time series, 51-38-14. Bearing in mind the away goals tiebreaker, Sounders FC would advance to the Western Conference Championship with a shutout win or a two-goal margin of victory in Thursday's second leg. A draw or loss would see Portland through, while a 2-1 Seattle win on Thursday would force extra time (and penalty kicks if necessary).

Ruidíaz continued his sensational form for the Rave Green since joining the club during the summer transfer window, bagging his 11th overall strike and first postseason goal for Sounders FC in the 10th minute of play. Cristian Roldan did the dirty work on the opening goal, slaloming his way down the right flank and knifing through Portland's defense, laying the ball off to Ruidíaz for a clean one-touch finish. The helper was Roldan's first postseason assist after finishing second on the roster in 2018 with nine regular-season assists.

Portland answered back just six minutes later through Jeremy Ebobisse, with Argentine playmaker Diego Valeri providing the decisive through ball to level the score at one goal apiece. The Timbers bagged the go-ahead goal in the 20th minute, as Valeri once again charged ahead on a Portland attack, seeing his attempt deflected before falling to countryman Sebastian Blanco at the edge of the area. The winger converted his attempt at Stefan Frei's far post, giving the home side a 2-1 advantage.

Following Sunday's match, Seattle hosts the return leg against Portland on Thursday, November 8 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT. Single-match tickets for the home leg of the Western Conference Semifinals are now on sale to the public via SoundersFC.com/Playoffs or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL. Thursday's match will be shown live on FS1. Should the two teams remain tied on aggregate, away goals serve as the tiebreaker for advancement to the Western Conference Championship.

MATCH NOTES

Following Sunday's result, Sounders FC now hosts the return leg on Thursday, November 8 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Seattle would advance to the Western Conference Championship with a shutout win (due to the away-goals tiebreaker) or a two-goal margin of victory. A draw or loss would see Portland through, while a 2-1 Seattle win on Thursday would force extra time (and penalty kicks if necessary).

Raúl Ruidíaz scored his first MLS postseason goal with the opening strike, giving him a team-high 11 on the season across all competitions in just 15 appearances since joining the club during the summer transfer window. The Peruvian becomes the 19th player to score a goal for Sounders FC all-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

Cristian Roldan's assist on Ruidíaz's goal marked his first career postseason assist. The University of Washington product has 15 career appearances in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

Schmetzer was forced to use two subs in the first half due to injury. Waylon Francis came on for Cristian Roldan in the 31st minute due to a groin injury, while Román Torres replaced Chad Marshall in the 40th minute due to a right knee injury.

Schmetzer's record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is now 7-3-2 since taking over for Sounders FC partway through the 2016 campaign.

This marks Sounders FC's 10th appearance in the Western Conference Semifinals, with the club previously advancing four times and being eliminated five times. Seattle's overall record in the Conference Semifinals is now 5-8-5.

This playoff matchup marks the second time the rivals have met in MLS postseason play, as Seattle and Portland faced off in 2013, a 5-3 aggregate win for the Timbers. This is the fifth time Seattle and Portland have met in postseason play across all eras (1975, 2004, 2005, 2013), with the two sides each advancing twice previously. Dating back to 1975, Seattle and Portland have met 103 times, with Sounders FC leading the all-time series, 51-38-14.

Sunday was the fourth matchup between Seattle and Portland during the 2018 campaign across all competitions, with the Timbers currently leading this season's series 3-1-0.

Chad Marshall made his 30th career postseason appearance on Sunday, second among active players and behind only Kyle Beckerman. Osvaldo Alonso is tied for sixth on that list with 24 postseason appearances, while Will Bruin is tied for 12th with 19. Stefan Frei's 18 career postseason games played ranks third among active goalkeepers. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Portland Timbers 2

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Venue: Providence Park

Referee: Ted Unkel

Assistants: Joe Fletcher, Kathryn Nesbitt

Fourth Official: Drew Fischer

VAR: Allen Chapman

Attendance:21,144

Weather: 59 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz 10'

POR - Jeremy Ebobisse (Diego Valeri) 17'

POR - Sebastian Blanco 29'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA - Gustav Svensson (caution) 85'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall (Román Torres 40'), Nouhou; Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan (Waylon Francis 31', Harry Shipp 87'), Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez; Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Handwalla Bwana, Will Bruin, Jordy Delem

Total shots: 9 (Ruidíaz, 4)

Shots on goal: 3 (Rodríguez, 2)

Fouls: 13 (Three players, 3)

Offside: 5 (Francis, 2)

Corner-kicks: 6 (Lodeiro, 5)

Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)

Portland Timbers - Jeff Attinella; Zarek Valentin, Bill Tuiloma, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana; Diego Chara, David Guzman (Lawrence Olum 51'), Andy Polo, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco; Jeremy Ebobisse (Lucas Melano 75')

Substitutes not used: Steven Clark, Alvas Powell, Julio Cascante, Andres Flores, Dairon Asprilla

Total shots: 11 (Four players, 2)

Shots on goal: 4 (Four players, 1)

Fouls: 8 (Guzman, 3)

Offside: 2 (Villafana/Guzman, 1)

Corner-kicks: 7 (Valeri, 7)

Saves: 2 (Attinella, 2)

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