MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Advance to Western Conference Championship After Defeating Seattle

Published on November 8, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers defeated rival Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs before a sellout crowd of 20,674 on Thursday Night. As a result, the Timbers beat Sounders FC 5-3 on aggregate in their two-game series and advance to face Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Championship.

The Timbers will visit Real Salt Lake for the first leg of the Western Conference Championship - a two-game, aggregate-goal series - on Sunday, Nov. 10, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPN.

Portland took control of the game in the first half, scoring on goals by Will Johnson in the 29th minute and midfielder Diego Valeri in the 44th to secure a 2-0 lead at the break. Defender Futty Danso then headed home a third straight goal for the Timbers two minutes into the second half.

Will Johnson registered one goal and one assist and forward Rodney Wallace finished with two assists on the night to help Portland become the first club since Real Salt Lake in 2008 to reach the conference championship in its MLS Cup Playoffs debut.

With five goals on aggregate against Seattle, the Timbers matched the league mark for most goals scored in a conference semifinal series since MLS adopted the home-and-away format for the round in 2003.

Portland conceded just three shots on goal to Seattle, which became the first club to score against the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field since Aug. 21.

From the opening whistle, the Timbers were on the front foot and their pressure on Sounders FC resulted in the opening goal. A Seattle defender was called for a handball in the box as Timbers defender Jack Jewsbury worked his way into the area. Johnson converted the penalty kick - his first MLS Cup Playoffs goal - down the right side to put the Timbers ahead 1-0 in the 29th minute. The Timbers have scored the opening goal in seven of their last eight games between the regular season and playoffs.

Great combination play down the right side set up Portland's second goal of the night just before halftime. From the right flank, Jewsbury slipped a pass in for Wallace in the top right corner of the box. Wallace played a short pass to Valeri racing down the right side of the box, and, while sliding along the ground, Valeri punched a shot by Sounders FC goalkeeper Michael Gspurning and inside the left post.

The Timbers scored a third goal in the 47th minute. A quickly taken free kick along the left sideline by Johnson was sent down the line to Wallace, and Wallace whipped in a cross on the near post. Danso came crashing in and headed in his first of the MLS Cup Playoffs inside the left post to give Portland a 3-0 advantage.

Sounders FC pulled one back midway through the second half as a thrown in from the left side was knocked towards the back post in the Timbers penalty area. Defender DeAndre Yedlin was the first to the free ball and just punched it in before Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts could smother it in the 74th minute.

Two minutes later, Yedlin sent in a cross from the right side that found Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson on the back post, and Johnson placed a header inside the top left corner of the goal to trim Portland's lead 3-2.

The Timbers will play host to the second leg of the Western Conference Championship against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, Nov. 24, at JELD-WEN Field at 6 p.m. (Pacific).

Notes:

* The Timbers defeated Sounders FC 5-3 on aggregate to advance to the Western Conference Championship. Portland is the first club since Real Salt Lake in 2008 to advance to the conference championship round in its MLS Cup Playoffs debut.

* The Timbers, unbeaten in their last 10 games between the regular season and playoffs, were the only club playing in the conference semifinal round to win both matches of the two-game series.

* The Timbers' five aggregate goals against Sounders FC matches the MLS mark for most goals scored in a conference semifinal series since MLS adopted the home-and-away format for the round in 2003. The mark was first achieved by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals in a 5-4 aggregate win over the LA Galaxy.

* Portland's five goals against Seattle in the Western Conference Semifinals were all scored by different players each scoring their first career MLS Cup Playoff goals.

* The Timbers have scored the opening goal in seven of their last eight games between the regular season and playoffs. The club is 14-0-6 through the 2013 regular season and playoffs when scoring the first goal of the match.

* The two goals by Sounders FC were the first scored against the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field since Aug. 21 against Real Salt Lake.

* Portland's defense conceded just three shots on goal. Only three times in their last 10 matches (since Sept. 7) have the Timbers allowed an opponent more than three shots on goal in a match.

* Futty Danso became the first Timbers defender to tally a goal for the club in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

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