The Seattle Sounders have a knack for scoring inside the belly of the beast. And with a huge matchup against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park looming on Sunday, we’re counting down the top five goals scored by the Sounders down in Portland.
5. Fredy Montero - Sept. 15, 2012
2012 was a year of mixed results for the Sounders and Timbers. After losing the first match at Jeld-Wen Field in June, the Sounders went back down for Round 2 in September looking for redemption.
Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was knocked out of the match when he collided with Sounders forward Eddie Johnson in the 51st minute. Timbers interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson was forced to put in Ricketts’ back up keeper and six minutes later, Fredy Montero made him pay for it.
A long searching ball found Montero streaking towards the box and with a mere one touch off his chest, Montero turned and fired on the half volley a looping ball into the near post corner from the top of the box, stunning the home crowd at Jeld-Wen. The Timbers equalized in the 78th minute to limit the Sounders to just one point on the day, but the goal lives on in the rivalry's history.
4. Clint Dempsey - April 5, 2014
The Sounders were firing on all cylinders in 2014. Not only did they claim a Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup, but seven of nine points from their neighbors down South as well. The first of the three match series was an absolute barnburner down at Providence Park.
Portland had jumped ahead to a comfortable 4-2 lead in the 57th minute in an already thrilling match, but the Sounders weren’t done. In the 85th minute, the Sounders responded off the foot of Clint Dempsey.
Some fancy footwork from Lamar Neagle on the touchline sprang him free to make the cross into forward Obafemi Martins, who hit it down into a streaking Dempsey. Dempsey corralled the knuckling ball brilliantly on one touch and then slid it home to bring the Sounders within one. Dempsey then equalized two minutes later when defender DeAndre Yedlin earned a penalty kick.
3. Fredy Montero - July 10, 2011
There aren’t many things in life more beautiful than a stunning free kick goal. It’s even better on enemy turf. In Portland’s inaugural season in 2011, the Timbers came up to Seattle and stole a point in the first match. In July, when the Sounders came down, Montero wanted more than an eye for an eye.
After a fast start from the Timbers put the Sounders in an early 1-0 hole, Montero charged toward the box but was taken down from behind just outside the box. Midfielder James Marcelin saw yellow for the challenge, but that wasn’t enough punishment for Montero. He stepped up to the ensuing free kick and buried it. The Sounders left Portland that day with all three points and a 3-2 victory.
2. Obafemi Martins - Aug. 24, 2014
One of the most satisfying victories for Seattle in the Portland derby came in August 2014. Yet again, the match rained goals as it has for much of the rivalry, and the Sounders got one each from Martins, Dempsey and Chad Barrett to build a 3-0 lead.
Portland then responded with a goal from forward Fanendo Adi and the Timbers showed life. Then in 76th minute, Oba did what Oba does: Weave through defenders as if they’re in slow motion. Martins beat a total of six Timbers on the play before then chipping the keeper for one of the most memorable goals in derby history. The Sounders went on to grab a convincing and thoroughly satisfying 4-2 victory.
1. Roger Levesque - July 1, 2009
There is perhaps no moment more quintessential to Sounders-Timbers history than Roger Levesque’s infamous "48 Seconds" goal, now seven years old.
Before the teams' third round match in the 2009 U.S. Open Cup, the Timbers Army came out strong with an intricate tifo display of Timber Joey chainsawing down the Space Needle. Within 48 seconds of the opening whistle, Levesque had an answer. On a quick start free kick at midfield, midfielder Sanna Nyassi combined with teammate Stephen King to spring himself loose on the right flank. Nyassi then banged in a low cross that Levesque met with a diving header for the one goal lead.
Levesque then capped it off with one of his signature goal celebrations as he ran toward midfield to be “chopped” down by forward Nate Jaqua. The moment was immortalized with an ECS tifo display two years later that culminated in a panel depicting Levesque’s smiling face over the phrase “48 seconds.”
