PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers scored four first-half goals against Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday afternoon, defeating their Cascadia rivals 4-2 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park. Four different players scored for the Timbers in the win, as forward Fanendo Adi, midfielder Lucas Melano and defenders Vytas and Steven Taylor each tallied a goal in the first half, while midfielder Diego Valeri recorded two assists.
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With the win, the Timbers (9-10-8, 35pts) have won four of their last six matches (4-2-0) played against Sounders FC across all competitions, dating back to June 16, 2015, including two wins in three regular-season matches in 2016. In those two wins, the Timbers have outscored Seattle 7-3 at Providence Park, which ranks tied for the most goals scored by Portland in consecutive home games in the series across all eras (since 1975).
Holding a 14-4 edge in shots in the opening half, the Timbers opened the first half on the strong foot, scoring in the 16th minute of play when Vytas nodded a powerful header off the crossbar and into the back of the net following a well-placed cross from midfielder Jack Jewsbury off a corner kick.
Five minutes later, Portland doubled its lead when Adi scored his 13th goal of the season, which ranks tied for fifth in the league, finishing a rebound from just outside the six-yard box after Valeri forced a strong save from Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who pushed the strike into Adi’s path.
In the 28th minute, the Timbers extended their lead to a three-goal advantage when Melano scored his third goal of the season, slotting midfielder Diego Chara’s driven pass into the back of the net to become the fourth Timbers player with three or more goals this season. Melano was able to get on the scoresheet after Portland produced creative build-up play on the edge of the box, with Adi and Valeri combining before releasing Chara on the far right side of the box.
Continuing to put Seattle’s backline under pressure, the Timbers scored their fourth and final goal of the match when Taylor scored his first career MLS goal with two minutes remaining in the first half, heading home Valeri’s free kick as the Timbers produced four goals in the first half for the first time in their MLS era.
Sounders FC (9-13-4, 31pts) got on the board early in the second half when midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz’s shot deflected off Taylor, ricocheting into the goal. Four minutes later, Seattle scored a second goal, cutting the Timbers’ lead to two goals, when forward Jordan Morris headed midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro’s curling cross into the back of the net.
With eight shots on target, Portland created several additional chances to score throughout the match, including an effort from defender Liam Ridgewell, who connected with Valeri’s free kick at the back post after being left unmarked, narrowly missing the target with a first-time effort. Prior to Ridgewell’s chance, Valeri blasted a powerful volley from the right side of the box in the seventh minute, hitting it just high of the crossbar.
In the 33rd minute, the Timbers created another chance on the counter attack when Valeri drove at Sounders FC’s defense before firing a powerful strike that skipped just wide of the near post, while Seattle just managed to deflect Adi’s backheel attempt on midfielder Darlington Nagbe’s cross in the 85th minute, clearing the danger away for a corner.
The Timbers rank first in the Cascadia Cup standings with nine points in four games played, previously defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-2 at Providence Park on May 22 before recording two consecutive home wins against Seattle. Vancouver sits in second place with six points in three games played, with Whitecaps FC and Sounders FC set to face each other on Sept. 17 and Oct. 2.
Next up, the Timbers will travel to play FC Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Toyota Stadium; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific). The match will feature a live broadcast on KPDX with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Portland Timbers (9-10-8, 35pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (9-13-4, 31pts)
Aug. 28, 2016 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Timbers 4 0 4
Seattle Sounders FC 0 2 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Vytas (Jewsbury), 16
POR: Adi, 21
POR: Melano (Chara, Valeri), 29
POR: S. Taylor (Valeri), 43
SEA: Ivanschitz (Lodeiro), 47
SEA: Morris (Lodeiro, Ivanschitz), 51
Misconduct Summary:
SEA: Lodeiro (Caution), 26
SEA: Ivanschitz (Caution), 45
SEA: Jones (Caution), 78
SEA: Valdez (Caution), 90
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Powell, D S. Taylor, D Ridgewell ©, D Vytas, M Chara (Zemanski, 90), M Jewsbury, M Nagbe, M Valeri, M Melano (Grabavoy, 83), F Adi
Substitutes Not Used: GK Konopka, D J. Taylor, M Barmby, F Mattocks, F McInerney
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Adi, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 11 (Vytas, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
SEA: GK Frei, D Mears (Torres, 45), D Marshall, D Evans ©, D Jones, M Roldan, M Alonso, M Fernandez (Gomez, 45), M Lodeiro, M Ivanschitz (Valdez, 82), F Morris
Substitutes Not Used: GK Miller, D Scott, M Friberg, M Fisher
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Morris, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Morris, 2); FOULS: 16 (Two players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 21,144
Weather: Clear, 80 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
