Photo by Diego Diaz
Friday, August 26, 2022
The tension was palpable in Portland tonight as the Timbers hosted their Cascadia Cup arch rivals, the Seattle Sounders, in a match where a win would put either team in playoff contention. Portland was in 10th place, two points away from being in the top 7 playoff spots. With a TIFO display worthy of their reputation, the Timbers Army filled the north end stands with a multiple layered masterpiece taunting the Sounders with an homage to The Shining, “Little fish, little fish, let us in!”
The Timbers started the first half with a tempo that matched the energy coming from the fans. Portland defender Zac McGraw got things started in the 4th minute with an attempt from the center of the box that went wide. Seattle was quick to respond in the 8th minute with a strong pass from Alex Roldan to Yeimar for the first goal of the night.
Portland’s Sebastian Blanco was shown a yellow card in the 11th minute for arguing with head referee Ismail Elfath over a foul. Timbers’ defender Bill Tuiloma’s attempt in the 14th minute was saved by Seattle keeper Stefan Frei and his attempt in the 29th minute was high and wide of the goal. Seattle picked up two yellow cards in the 20th and 23rd minute to Nicolás Lodeiro and Danny Leyva for bad fouls.
A 40th minute penalty conceded by Yeimar against Erik Williamson in the box earned Portland a penalty kick. Dairon Asprilla with a little stutter step sent the ball flying to the back right corner of the net for a Timbers’ goal as Frei jumped to the left. Williamson picked up a yellow card for Portland on a bad foul in the 42nd minute to end the half.
The Timbers took the pitch for the second half with the same energy they had in the first. A set piece in the 51st minute with service by Williamson found Asprilla, who sent a shot across the face of the goal, to be finished by Blanco for the Timbers’ 2nd goal. McGraw tried to follow with an attempt in the 53rd minute and again in the 66th. Zac McGraw was later given a yellow card in the 78th minute for a debatable foul at center field.
Seattle had multiple shots towards goal with one by Jackson Ragen hitting the post in the 85th minute. The Timbers continued their attach in stoppage time with a shot by Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who was substituted in for Blanco in the 75th, and by Marvin Loría, who came in for Santiago Moreno in the 93rd minute. The match ended after 8 minutes of stoppage time with the Timbers victorious in a 2-1 win.
Green smoke filled the stadium as the Timbers’ Army tetris’d their way across the north end. The Timbers swept Seattle this season and won the coveted Cascadia Cup. The Cup is a tradition started by the supporter clubs of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2004 and is awarded to the team with the highest standing between the three in regular league play. After the trophy ceremony in front of the Timbers Army the stands started to empty as the theme song to The Shining played them out.
