Here’s the Portland View of things from Sunday night.
The Portland Timbers came ready for tonight’s match, and they showed it all evening long despite the Sounders’ comeback in the final minutes. Give credit to the defense that held its ground and keeper Steve Clark rising to the occasion with five saves for the win.
Also, give credit to Sebastian Blanco and Felipe Mora who continued the Timbers run with perfection in Lumen Field with six matches (4wins, 2 Draws). One thing this team did on Sunday was erase their recent setbacks and came ready to rock and upset the first place Sounders.
In the early minutes of the match, Dairon Aspirilla was denied by the woodwork in what could have been the goal of the week. The same thing happened to the Sounders multiple times in the second half with the woodwork being the culprit denying both sides.
Despite the positive record at Lumen Field, the Timbers still cannot shake off injuries in some of its most important players such as Sebastian Blanco’s ACL injury last season and now Eryk Williamson with a possible season-ending injury of his own.
However, when the Rose City side dominates in possession, positive results come and today they took all their opportunities and converted them like the game’s first goal. That first goal came was when Felipe Mora created havoc by getting Sounders keeper Cleveland out of his area and sending a cross to a wide-open Blanco to put the ball into an empty net for the lead in the 58th minute.
With Sounders manager Schmetzer making some moves and substituting defensive players injecting more attack in its offensive game, he sent the likes of Jimmy Medranda, Freddy Montero, Nicolas Benezet, and Will Bruin. The Timbers defense came up very big denying the Sounders several would-be goals and not allowing many of its players to be in their comfort zone during the whole game.
To wrap up the win, Felipe Mora delivered the insurance goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to deliver what looked like an agonizing but well-deserved win on the road.
Goals
Sebastian Blanco 58’ PTFC, Felipe Mora 90+5 PTFC
Men of the Match
Sebastian Blanco, Felipe Mora, and Steve Clark
Portland Timbers
Seattle Sounders FC
