MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Defeat Cascadia-Rival Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 at Centurylink Field

Published on June 30, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


SEATTLE - The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games across all competitions on Saturday afternoon, defeating Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 before 47,521 fans at CenturyLink Field. Defender Larrys Mabiala recorded his first career brace in MLS, scoring for a second straight match, while forward Samuel Armenteros scored his fourth goal of the campaign, as the Timbers recorded their second win in two games played against Sounders FC in 2018. Midfielder Diego Valeri also tallied three assists in the victory, becoming the first player in club history to notch three assists in an MLS road match.

Facing Sounders FC

With the 3-2 victory in the 101st meeting between the two clubs since 1975, the Timbers (7-3-5, 26pts) tallied their first MLS regular-season win against Sounders FC (3-9-3, 12pts) at CenturyLink Field. Additionally, Portland is now unbeaten in its last four regular-season games against Sounders FC, marking its longest unbeaten run against Seattle in league play since 2004.

Recent form

The 3-2 win marked the Timbers' 12th straight match without a loss across all competitions, dating back to April 14. During that 12-game stretch, 10 of those matches have taken place during league play, which is the longest unbeaten run in MLS this season. Additionally, during that stretch, four of those 12 games have occurred away from home, with the Timbers recording three wins and one draw away from Providence Park.

Finishing touch

Scoring a brace and the game-winning goal for the Timbers in Saturday's match, Mabiala found the back of the net for a second straight week with his two-goal performance against Sounders FC. With both goals, Mabiala has scored four goals this season, tying Armenteros for the third-most goals on the team and leading all MLS defenders in goals in 2018. Mabiala is the first Timbers player to score a brace at Sounders FC in MLS play and the fourth player across all eras in club history (since 1975). The center back is also the first Timbers defender to score two goals in a match in MLS play.

Midfield maestro

With three assists in Saturday's match, Valeri became the first Timbers player to tally three assists in a single MLS road match, doubling his assist (6) total for the season. Additionally, Valeri's seven career assists against Sounders FC are tied for the most assists against Seattle in MLS play by a single player.

Key plays

The Timbers forced a strong save in the 22nd minute when Valeri's corner kick found Mabiala on the edge of the six-yard box, with the defender whipping a powerful header on frame, forcing an acrobatic save from goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.

Four minutes later, Portland created back-to-back opportunities when midfielder Andrés Flores blasted a strong effort just over the crossbar, while forward Dairon Asprilla pulled a low strike just wide of the far post in the 26th minute.

The Timbers took the lead just three minutes into the second half when Valeri's corner kick found Mabiala inside the area, with the defender rising above his marker to whip a powerful header inside the far post to record his third goal of the season. The goal also marked Mabiala's second straight match with a goal.

Moments after Mabiala's opening goal, Sounders FC managed to level the score when midfielder Victor Rodriguez was able to convert midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro's cross from close range in the 51st minute.

Portland regained the lead just a few minutes after Sounders FC equalized, with the Timbers producing an effective counter attack in the 57th minute. Attacking on the break, Valeri played a well-timed through ball in space to Armenteros, who ran at his defender before cutting the ball back onto his left foot and curling a well-struck effort into the far corner to record his fourth goal of the season.

Sounders FC were able to tie the game again when defender Chad Marshall found space on Lodeiro's corner kick, nodding the ball into the far corner in the 68th minute to even things at 2-2.

Continuing to be effective on set pieces, the Timbers were able to take the lead in the 74th minute through another Mabiala goal, with the defender getting position on his marker, before powering Valeri's corner kick into the back of the net with a strong header. The goal marked his second of the match and his fourth of the season, while Valeri notched his third assist of the game.

Notes:

- The match was the 101st game in the rivalry between the two clubs.

- The 3-2 victory was the first by the Timbers in a regular-season match at Sounders FC since April 30, 2005 (USL).

- Portland is now unbeaten in 10 straight MLS matches and 12 matches overall. It is just the fourth time in club history (all eras) that the Timbers have tallied 12 consecutive competitive matches without a loss.

- Portland's 10-match unbeaten streak in league play is the longest streak in MLS this season.

- Portland is unbeaten in its last four regular-season matches against Sounders FC, its longest unbeaten run against Sounders FC in league play since 2004.

- A total of 71 goals have been scored between the clubs in MLS regular-season matches, the most of any fixture in MLS since 2011.

- Larrys Mabiala scored a brace for the first time in his MLS career. Mabiala is the first defender with a brace for the Timbers in MLS play.

- Mabiala is the first Timbers player with a brace at Sounders FC in MLS play and the fourth Timbers player across all eras of the rivalry.

- Mabiala leads all MLS defenders with four goals this season.

- Samuel Armenteros scored his fourth goal of the season, tying with Mabiala for the third-most goals on the team in 2018.

- Diego Valeri delivered three assists in the match. Valeri is the first Timbers player with three assists in a single MLS road match.

- Valeri's seven career assists against Sounders FC are tied for the most assists against Sounders FC in MLS play by a single player. Brad Davis also has seven assists against Sounders FC.

- Bill Tuiloma and Julio Cascante each made their first appearances in the rivalry.

Next game

Next up, the Timbers will return to Providence Park to play host to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 7. Beginning at 8 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday's match will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish)

Postgame Quote Sheet

Portland Timbers (7-3-5, 26pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (3-9-3, 12pts)

June 30, 2018 - CenturyLink Field (Seattle, Wash.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Seattle Sounders FC 0 2 2

Portland Timbers 0 3 3

Scoring Summary:

POR: Mabiala (Valeri), 48

SEA: Rodriguez (Lodeiro), 51

POR: Armenteros (Valeri), 57

SEA: Marshall (Lodeiro), 68

POR: Mabiala (Valeri), 74

Misconduct Summary:

SEA: Tolo (Caution), 85

POR: Valentin (Caution), 87

SEA: Dempsey (Caution), 89

SEA: Kee-hee (Caution), 90

Lineups:

POR: GK Attinella, D Powell, D Mabiala, D Cascante, D Valentin, M Olum, M Chara, M Flores, M Valeri ©, F Asprilla (Tuiloma, 84), F Armenteros

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gleeson, D Vytas, M Williamson, M Paredes, M Blanco, F Ebobisse

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Three players tied, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Mabiala, 4); FOULS: 16 (Chara, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 3

SEA: GK Meredith, D McCrary (Shipp, 81), D Kee-hee, D Marshall, D Francis (Tolo, 81), M Alonso, M Roldan, M Lodeiro, M Rodriguez, F Dempsey, F Bruin

Substitutes Not Used: GK Lubin, D Delem, M Roldan, M Neagle, F Wolff-Eikrem

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Rodriguez, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Rodriguez, 2); FOULS: 13 (Dempsey, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referees: Eduardo Mariscal, Ian Anderson

4th Official: Sorin Stoica

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 47,521

Weather: Cloudy, 63 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 30, 2018


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