Sounders FC 1 : 3 Portland Timbers (after extra time)
Dempsey banned for three games
Hanauer: We will collect information on fan misconduct
Hinton Unleashed: You can’t mess with referees
Match Analysis: In USOC and derbies, anything can happpen
Portland Timbers advanced to the next round of the US Open Cup after a 1-3 win over Sounders FC at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, WA.
Despite a magnificent USOC record held by the home side at their ‘lucky’ venue, it was Portland fans who left celebrating a memorable win. The loss was the first in 17 matches for Sounders FC at Starfire Stadium in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup history.
The match was characterised by three red cards, all to Seattle. Brad Evans picked up the first for a second bookable offence in the 69th minute. Portland were already leading 1-0 at that point courtesy of a Diego Valeri goal 21 minutes previously.
However, even with a man and a goal disadvantage, Sounders FC rallied and Obafemi Matins provided an equaliser after 71 minutes.
By then Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid had used two of his three substitutes, somewhat surprisingly with extra time looming, introducing Dylan Remick and Clint Dempsey for Cristian Roldan and Aaron Kovar. The changes had brought an equaliser but carried some risk.
On 84, and with extra time seemingly definite, the Sounders coach was forced into an enormous gamble by using his last substitute Tyrone Mears replacing Leo Gonzalez who had signaled that he needed to come off.
Schmid’s luck worsened when Martins received an injury in a midfield challenge just before fulltime, and had to leave the pitch. Schmid had used all three substitutes, leaving Sounders FC playing with nine men with 30 minutes of extra time to be played.
Portland boss Caleb Porter had been smart enough to hold one back in the likely event of a players’ fitness failing in extra time.
In the event, he didn’t even need that. With a two man advantage, Rodney Wallace put the guests ahead again in the 100th minute. Max Urruti added an insurance goal six minutes later to settle the score at 3-1 for Portland.
In between the goals, Sounders midfielder Michael Azira was sent off in the 112th minute. At that point, Dempsey knocked a notebook or card out of referee Daniel Radford’s hand, and then tore it up in front of the official leaving him no choice but to send Dempsey packing.
The night ended on a sad note with the officials needing a police escort off the pitch with some objects being thrown in their direction.
US Soccer are bound to have some view on both Dempsey’s actions and the throwing of objects, although Sounders could pre-empt any sanction by acting first. For Portland, the victory may have finally exorcised the ghost of Cal FC by playing the part of Cal FC in the latest episode of the amazing soap opera that is Cascadian football.
SCORING SUMMARY
POR – Diego Valeri (Rodney Wallace) 48′
SEA – Obafemi Martins 79′
POR – Rodney Wallace 100′
POR – Maximiliano Urruti (George Fochive) 116′
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Andy Rose (caution) 20′
SEA – Brad Evans (caution) 38′
POR – Norberto Paparatto (caution) 54′
SEA – Brad Evans (ejection) 69′
POR – Jack Jewsbury (caution) 106′
POR – Taylor Peay (caution) 111′
SEA – Micheal Azira (ejection) 112′
SEA – Clint Dempsey (ejection) 113′
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Troy Perkins; Oniel Fisher, Chad Marshall, Brad Evans – Captain, Leo Gonzalez (Tyrone Mears 84′); Cristian Roldan (Dylan Remick 72′), Micheal Azira, Andy Rose, Aaron Kovar (Clint Dempsey 71′); Obafemi Martins, Lamar Neagle
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Thomàs, Darwin Jones, Dylan Remick
Total shots: 13 (Aaron Kovar/Obafemi Martins, 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (Obafemi Martins, 2)
Fouls: 19 (Andy Rose, 4)
Offside: 2 (Dylan Remick, 1)
Corner-kicks: 8 (Aaron Kovar, 6)
Saves: 2 (Troy Perkins, 2)
Portland Timbers – Adam Kwarasey; Alvas Powell (Taylor Peay 36′), Norberto Paparatto, Nat Borchers, Jorge Villafana; Jack Jewsbury – Captain, Diego Valeri (Gaston Fernandez 60′), George Fochive; Darlington Nagbe, Fanendo Ali
Substitutes not used: Andrew Weber, Gaston Fernandez, Michael Nanchoff, Taylor Peay, Maximiliano Urruti, Ishmael Yartey
Total shots: 13 (Rodney Wallace, 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (5 tied at 1)
Fouls: 12 (4 tied at 2)
Offside: 5 (Rodney Wallace, 2)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Jorge Villafana, 2)
Saves: 4 (Adam Kwarasey, 4)