MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Top Cascadia-Rival Sounders FC 2-1

Published on June 24, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - First-half goals by striker Kris Boyd and defender David Host paved the way for the Portland Timbers in a 2-1 victory over Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders FC before a sellout crowd of 20,438 at JELD-WEN Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Timbers struck twice in the opening 25 minutes, receiving the goals from Boyd and Horst, to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Seattle was able to pull one back just before the hour mark on a strike into the top left corner by forward Eddie Johnson. The Timbers defense stood firm through the final 30 minutes of the second half and six minutes of stoppage time, limiting Seattle to just two shots on goal during that span, to secure the victory.

The intensity and physicality of the match steadily increased over the course of the second half, with the two rivals combing for 25 fouls, four cautions and two ejections over the final 45 minutes. In second-half stoppage time, an off-ball foul by Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero initiated a scuffle. When things settled, Montero and Portland's Lovel Palmer and were sent off with straight red cards.

Boyd scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, Horst headed in his first-career MLS goal, while defender Steven Smith and midfielder Franck Songo'o logged their first assists to lead the Timbers (4-6-4, 16pts). Portland extended its home unbeaten run in league play to five games and takes a lead in the Cascadia Cup standings with the win.

Johnson scored his club-best fifth goal, defender Zach Scott notched his first-career MLS assist and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso put two shots on goal in the loss for Sounders FC (7-5-4, 25pts), extending the club's winless run to seven games.

The capacity crowd on Sunday marked the Timbers' 25th consecutive sellout for a league match at JELD-WEN Field since joining MLS in 2011.

The Timbers claimed the lead in the 16th minute with Boyd and Smith connecting on the go-ahead goal. Songo'o and Smith set up a one-two down the left side, sending Smith down the wing for the cross in. Boyd had separated from his defender on a well-time run at goal and knocked the ball past Sounders FC goalkeeper Andrew Weber inside the back post.

A threatening header by Boyd in the 25th minute set up the corner kick which led to Portland's second goal. From the right corner, Songo'o served in a curling corner into the box, where Horst powered a bouncing header by Weber to double the Timbers' lead 2-0. Earlier in the half, Horst had a chance to give Portland a lead on a similar play, but drove a Songo'o corner kick off the crossbar in the 11th minute.

Johnson cut the Sounders FC deficit to 2-1 in the 58th minute. He worked the ball into the right side of the box and a quick cut back gave him just enough separation from two Timbers defenders. Johnson fired a left-footed shot into the top far corner of the goal just beyond the reach of Perkins on a diving effort.

Portland's backline held Seattle's high-powered forward pair of Montero and Johnson, who combined have nine goals on the season, to just two shots on goal. Perkins finished the match with five saves, including one in each half on long-range shots by Alonso.

The Timbers visit the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, June 30, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park at 6 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be televised live on KPDX and in Spanish on EstrellaTV and across Oregon on the Portland Timbers Television Network, with radio broadcasts on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

Notes:

* While just the third MLS match between the Cascadia rivals, Sunday's match marked the 77th all-time meeting between the Timbers and Sounders FC, a rivalry that dates back to 1975 and the original North American Soccer League. In the MLS series, Portland is 1-1-1 against Seattle. * The Timbers have an all-time record of 20-17-2 against Sounders FC in Portland. * With the win, the Timbers take the lead in standings for the Cascadia Cup with four points. The Cascadia Cup is an annual, fan-based derby, started in 2004, contested between the three Northwest MLS clubs Portland, Seattle and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. * The 38 combined fouls between the Cascadia rivals set a new Timbers MLS record for total fouls in a single match. * Portland was issued four cautions against Seattle, setting a new single-game team high as an MLS club. * The red card issued to Timbers midfielder Lovel Palmer was the club's first send off in 2012 and the first since Sept. 24, 2011 (@New York Red Bulls). * On the opening goal by Kris Boyd in the 16th minute, the Timbers have taken the initial lead in three of their last four league games. * Boyd's goal marked the seventh consecutive goal scored by the Timbers in which the forward factored into the scoring play - either scoring, assisting or initiating an own goal. * The Timbers' two first-half goals marked the second time this season in which the club had scored multiple goals in a half. The first was the season-opening 3-1 win over Philadelphia on March 12, in which Portland scored all three goals in the second half. * The last time Portland scored multiple goals in a first half was Sept. 16, 2011, in a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution at JELD-WEN Field. * Head coach John Spencer earned his 15th win as head coach of the Portland Timbers in Sunday's victory over Sounders FC. * The match against Seattle was the Timbers' third Sunday fixture of the 2012 campaign. Overall, the Timbers are 4-4-1 in Sunday matches as an MLS club. * The Seattle match marked the third in a stretch of 11 straight matches for the Timbers against Western Conference opponents. * According to Opta, the Timbers have scored 12 of their 14 goals at home during the regular season in the North goal at JELD-WEN Field in front of the Timbers Army. * In ESPN/ESPN2 televised matches this season, the Timbers are 2-0-0 and have scored a total of five goals in those games. As an MLS club, the Timbers are 4-1-1 all-time in nationally televised games on ESPN/ESPN2. * When scoring the first goal of a match at JELD-WEN Field, the Timbers have an overall record of 12-2-3 as an MLS club. * Goalkeeper Troy Perkins made his 43rd consecutive start for the Timbers, dating back to April 23, 2011. * Forward Mike Fucito, the first player to have played on both sides of the Portland-Seattle rivalry in each clubs' MLS era, made his first start as a Timbers player and first start of the 2012 season on Sunday. * Portland defender Futty Danso earned his first start since May 15, having missed time due to a suspension, injury and international duty. He played in his fifth competitive Portland-Seattle match Sunday, the most among active Timbers players. * Defender Hanyer Mosquera sat out the first of an MLS-imposed, three-match suspension for an incident in the LA Galaxy match on June 17.

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from June 24, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central