Seattle Sounders FC 2 (8-11-6, 30 points) topped Portland Timbers 2 (7-14-4, 25 points), with goals from midfielder Zach Mathers and Homegrown Player Jordan Schweitzer on Monday evening at Starfire Stadium.
Mathers began the scoring with a penalty-kick in the 51st minute, before the visiting side equalized in the 76th minute of play. Schweitzer’s score in the 88th minute proved to be the difference for the Rave Green, who are now tied for 11th place in the Western Conference table, four points below the cutoff line for the final postseason berth in the West. Sounders FC 2 hosts Cascadia rival Whitecaps FC 2 in the final home contest of the 2016 campaign on Friday, September 2 (7:30 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com).
S2 had a bevy of dangerous chances in the first half, but were unable to find the back of the net. Carlos Patino’s opportunity in front of the goal was stopped by the on-rushing goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, while Mark O’Ojong’s shot blasted through the hands of McIntosh before striking the crossbar and being cleared away eight minutes later.
In the 33rd minute, Jordy Delem found himself one-on-one with the netminder, but he was unable to finish the close-range header and his rebound barely missed crossing the line.
The host side broke through in the 52nd minute after forward Patino was taken down in the area. Mathers took the ensuing penalty-kick and put S2 up 1-0 with a well-placed strike into the right side of the net for Mathers’ third goal of the season.
S2 held the lead for a little over 20 minutes until Portland’s Victor Arboleda netted the equalizer. Arboleda chased down a through-ball that pierced Seattle’s backline before sending a low shot past S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller in the 76th minute.
In 88th minute, S2 scored the game-winner on a close-range goal from Schweitzer. The first-year midfielder positioned himself near the left post, where he received a pass from defender Tony Alfaro. On one touch, Schweitzer sent an arching flick into the far side netting for his second goal of the season.
The win gives S2 its third victory over Timbers 2 in the 2016 league campaign, two of which came at Starfire Stadium. Ezra Hendrickson's side continues its home stretch against Whitecaps FC 2 on Friday, September 2 (7:30 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |2-1| Portland Timbers 2
Monday, August 29, 2016
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Josh Wilkens
Assistants: Kelsey Harms, Joe Tompkins
Fourth Official: Benjamin Oakley
Attendance: 1,570
Weather: Partly cloudy and 74 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Zach Mathers (penalty) 51’
POR – Victor Arboleda (Villyan Bijev) 76’
SEA – Jordan Schweitzer (Tony Alfaro) 88’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Irvin Parra (caution) 30’
POR – Michael Gallagher (caution) 30’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Tyler Miller; Oniel Fisher, Jordy Delem, Tony Alfaro, Nouhou Tolo (Georg Armstrong 90’); Jordan Schweitzer, Mark O’Ojong (Willy Kapawa 90’), Zach Mathers (Michael Nelson 90’); Carlos Patino (Devon Fisher 81’), Victor Mansaray (Kei Tomozawa 78’), Irvin Parra
Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Jamie Dimitroff
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 7
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 3
Portland Timbers 2 – Kendall McIntosh; Brent Richards, Gbenga Arokoyo (Michael Gallagher 11’), Rennico Clarke, Chris Klute; Victor Arboleda (Neco Brett 78’), Nick Besler, Seth Casiple, Blake Bodily (Ben Polk 83’); Villyan Bijev, Augustine Williams
Substitutes not used: Justin Luthy, Trevor Morley, Dylan Damraoui, Andre Lewis
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 4
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 5
