MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Fall 1-0 in Hard-Fought Match against Rival Seattle

Published on April 27, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


SEATTLE - The Portland Timbers produced a number of dangerous chances, including a shot off the crossbar in the final minutes, but could not find the late-game equalizer in a 1-0 loss against Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC in front of 41,451 fans at CenturyLink Field on Sunday night.

Portland (2-3-3, 9pts) outshot Seattle 11-10, while also holding Sounders FC to just three shots on goal in the evenly played match, but conceded the go-ahead goal in the 77th minute when forward Clint Dempsey was able to tap in a fortuitous rebound after Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey stopped the initial shot from midfielder Andy Rose following a long throw-in. Kwarasey couldn't corral the bouncing rebound as Dempsey poked the ball into the back of the net.

For the third straight match, the Timbers compiled a passing accuracy above 80 percent, logging their second-highest mark during the 2015 season to-date (84 percent) while also finishing ahead of Sounders FC (4-2-1, 13pts) in chances created (8-5) on Sunday.

Minutes before Seattle's goal, Timbers forward Fanendo Adi saw a glancing header from close range flash just wide of the far left post. Looking for the late equalizer, Adi delivered another header off the crossbar in the 81st minute.

Searching for the opening goal, Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe delivered a low, hard shot from outside the penalty box that curved just wide of the right post in the 69th minute. Earlier, midfielder Diego Chara saw a well-struck volley from distance caught by Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Three Timbers starters finished the match connecting on more than 90 percent of their passes. Defender Nat Borchers completed 92-percent of his passes (45 of 49), while midfielder Jack Jewsbury (92 percent, 66-of-72) and Nagbe (90 percent, 56-of-62) also registered impressive passing accuracy percentages.

Portland returns to the Rose City to square off against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 2, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday's match will be carried live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on La GranD 93.5 FM.

Notes:

- Sunday's match marked the 89th all-time meeting between Portland and Seattle since the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) season.

- Midfielder Jack Jewsbury made the 310th appearance of his MLS career on Sunday against Seattle. It was also his 115th regular-season appearance with the Timbers since 2011.

- Midfielder Diego Chara registered his 125th career MLS appearance with Portland on Sunday.

- Portland's passing accuracy on Sunday (84 percent) ranks as the second-highest mark for the team during the 2015 season so far.

- Despite the road loss, the Timbers have suffered the fewest losses away from home (12) in MLS since the start of the 2013 season.

- Playing his 15th competitive match against Sounders FC since 2011, midfielder Darlington Nagbe connected on 90 percent of his passes (56 of 62). Nagbe was also fouled five times, bringing his season total to a league-leading 26 fouls suffered.

- Defender Liam Ridgewell made his 23rd consecutive start since joining Portland on June 25, 2014, the longest current streak for Portland.

- The match was the 17th time the Portland Timbers have played a league match at CenturyLink Field in the club's history in all eras. Of all road venues since 1975, that ranks second-most for the Timbers behind Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C.

- Portland's Darlington Nagbe and Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso are the only two players to play in every Timbers competitive match against Sounders FC since Portland joined MLS in 2011.

- Defenders Nat Borchers, Alvas Powell, Liam Ridgewell, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey have all played the full 90 minutes in each of Portland's first eight matches of the 2015 season.

- Midfielder Diego Valeri was in the gameday 18 for the first time since sustaining a torn ACL on Oct. 25, 2014, against FC Dallas.

Next Game

Portland returns to the Rose City to square off against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 2, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday's match will be carried live on ROOT SPORTS with a local radio broadcast on 750/102.9 The Game and in Spanish on La GranD 93.5 FM.

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 27, 2015


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