Back and forth, match in these semifinals between two of the league bitter of rivals. Tonight the match belonged to these perseverant Portland Timbers. Still this did not come easy for the victors coming with a slight lead to Emerald City.
As everyone anticipated, a night the locals were going to exercise total pressure throughout the match. In the end, this match witness a see saw from both sides putting on a fight. However, memories of 2015 came alive for these Portland Timbers. This is something I will tell you about in the course of this note.
Let us call this squad the comeback kids as one fighting crew. After prevailing in the initial half, the challenge for the Portland backfield in the remaining 45 minutes was to be one of its ultimate. The push and determination that the local Sounders showed in the game had its rewards but in the end, this became useless for them.
With a costly error from Timbers keeper Jeff Attinella, many thought that Portland was too surrendered and to see the end of this campaign. Not for long was the joy the local Sounders had the joy of caressing a third consecutive final. After a defiant and opportune score by Sebastian Blanco to extend, the Timbers overall series lead to 3-2.
As the match time moving on, so did both squads managers making their strategic moves. For Gio sending to the field the likes of Dairon Aspirilla for Andy Polo, Lawrence Olum for Andres Flores and Lucas Melano for Jeremy Ebobisse, in the end these moves became the icing on the cake. With a clear opportunity when Lucas Melano almost put the go-ahead goal in the ending minutes.
For sure, this became a contested match from start to finish, as neither squad wanted to give in. As the locals Sounders striker Raul Ruidiaz almost converting into its hero. On injury time, the Peruvian marked the tying goal to send this affair into extra time. With disbelief seen in the visiting Portland Timbers visible in their faces this group of determined individuals was not to go down easily.
As extra time gave way, suddenly we saw the Timbers Dairon Aspirilla scoring and putting Portland Timbers ahead. Despite that score, the golden rule goal was not in place so the match had to continue. In this match, we saw no squad ready to give in and the Sounders strategies work to perfection when in the second time these got a penalty on their favor. With Nicolas Lodeiro beating Jeff Attinellla this meeting was even again.
As opportunities came for both squad and the locals getting the best, in the end the infamous round of penalties was to make its presence. With Lucas Melano, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco hitting on target. On the Sounders side, their hero Raul Ruidiaz hit his target but not Will Bruin and Osvaldo Alonso. These misses gave Portland a clear path to victory. However, for Liam Ridgewell this was his moment to shine and give Portland the win until his miss. Opening the possibilities again for the Seattle Sounders when Handwalla Bwana made his shoot leaving the possibilities of going into extra rounds if Timbers Dairon Aspirilla miss. Unfortunately, for the Seattle Sounders streak of making their third consecutive conference finals went up the air when Portland Aspirilla scores the definitive game winner.
Goals
Raul Ruidiaz 68’ SS, Sebastian Blanco 78’ PTFC, Raul Ruidiaz 90-3’ SS, Dairon Aspirilla 93 PTFC, Nicolas Lodeiro 97’ SS (pen)
Penalties
PTFC- Lucas Melano- score, Diego Valeri- score, Sebastian Blanco- score, Liam Ridgewell- miss Dairon Aspirilla- score
SS- Raul Ruidiaz- score, Will Bruin- miss Osvaldo Alonso miss Handwalla Bwana- score
Highlight of the match
Hail to these hard fighting and determined Portland Timbers starting lineup as well its substitutes. As Gio Savarese has all the right moves so far, this squad is paving its way to the league finals. Still this endeavor is one match at a time.
Dairon Aspirilla, the man from Colombia lately showing off his skills and best game that in the end paid off and becoming the game hero.
For Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri and Lucas Melano the three Gauchos, becoming a vital aprt of this squad success in the postseason.
Giovanni Savarese, and his think tanks in Carlos Llamosa, Guillermo Valencia and Miles Joseph making this squad as an all-around contender.
Sounders FC
Portland
