SEATTLE, WASH. – First-half goals from Obafemi Martins and Brad Evans lifted Seattle Sounders FC (12-13-2, 38 points) to a 2-1 victory over archrival Portland Timbers (11-9-7, 40 points) in front of 64,358 fans on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Seattle moves to the top of the 2015 Cascadia Cup standings with nine points, one point ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Sounders FC and Vancouver are set to meet at BC Place on September 19 to decide the regional competition. The victory also moves Sounders FC within two points of Portland in the race for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, with the Rave Green currently occupying the sixth and final postseason position. Today’s attendance of 64,358 is the fourth-largest crowd in club history and biggest in MLS this season. Seattle is 4-0-0 all-time against Portland in matches featuring over 60,000 supporters, outscoring the Timbers 8-1.
Seattle got off to a fast start in the sixth minute of play, as Evans and forward Nelson Valdez kept alive a loose ball inside Portland’s area before Martins slammed home his team-leading 10th goal of the year. Sounders FC doubled its advantage just before halftime, as Martins was fouled inside the Timbers’ 18-yard-box by Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey. Evans stepped-up to take the ensuing penalty kick, putting his side into a 2-0 lead heading into the second half.
Portland found a goal in the 58th minute, as midfielder Jack Jewsbury converted service from Diego Valeri during a Timbers corner-kick, but it was not enough to overcome Seattle’s early lead. Today’s victory marked the second home win for Sounders FC over Portland in MLS play throughout 2015, completing the season series. After today’s result, Sounders FC improves to 7-3-4 against Portland in league play, including an unblemished 5-0-2 record at CenturyLink Field.
Additionally, in partnership with the American Red Cross, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Hanauer Family Foundation, Sounders FC fans helped to raise more than $20,000 at CenturyLink Field in support of those affected by the Western Wildfires in Washington and Oregon.
After a busy month of August in which Sounders FC played eight matches across all competitions, the club opens September with its last match against Eastern Conference opposition on Saturday, September 5 versus Toronto FC (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Portland Timbers 1
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Corey Parker, Eric Weisbrod
Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 64,358
Weather: Partly cloudy and 68 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Obafemi Martins 6’
SEA – Brad Evans (penalty) 42’
POR – Jack Jewsbury (Diego Valeri) 58’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Brad Evans (caution) 24’
POR – Liam Ridgewell (caution) 44’
SEA – Oniel Fisher (caution) 61’
POR – Diego Valeri (caution) 69’
POR – Dairon Asprilla (caution) 83’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Román Torres, Oniel Fisher; Marco Pappa (Cristian Roldan 63’), Brad Evans – captain, Erik Friberg (Gonzalo Pineda 79’), Lamar Neagle (Osvaldo Alonso 66’); Nelson Valdez, Obafemi Martins
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Zach Scott, Dylan Remick, Chad Barrett
Total shots: 6 (Evans/Pappa, 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 12 (Evans, 3)
Offside: 2 (Martins/Roldan, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Friberg, 3)
Saves: 5 (Frei, 5)
Portland Timbers – Adam Kwarasey; Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell – captain, Jorge Villafana (Rodney Wallace 83’); Jack Jewsbury, George Fochive (Dairon Asprilla 78’), Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe; Fanendo Adi, Lucas Melano (Maximiliano Urruti 83’)
Substitutes not used: Jake Gleeson, Norberto Paparatto, Taylor Peay, Michael Nanchoff
Total shots: 20 (Jewsbury, 5)
Shots on goal: 6 (Three players, 2)
Fouls: 17 (Fochive, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 7 (Valeri, 7)
Saves: 1 (Kwarasey, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- Seattle Sounders FC improves to 12-13-2 in the 2015 regular season. At 38 points, the Rave Green are tied for sixth place with the San Jose Earthquakes, but hold the tiebreaker for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference on total wins.
- After today’s result, Sounders FC improves to 7-3-4 against Portland in league play, including an unblemished 5-0-2 record at CenturyLink Field. Seattle won both matches against the Timbers this season on its home turf.
- Today’s attendance of 64,358 is the fourth-largest crowd in club history and biggest in MLS this season. Seattle is 4-0-0 all-time against Portland in matches featuring over 60,000 supporters, outscoring the Timbers 8-1.
- Forward Obafemi Martins scored his team-leading 10th goal in the sixth minute. With the Nigerian’s scoring tally, Sounders FC is now 7-1-0 this season when Martins records a goal. Since 2013, the club is 26-1-0 when Martins scores.
- Captain Brad Evans scored his second penalty kick across all competitions this season in the 42nd minute. Evans is now 10/10 all-time from the spot with Sounders FC across all competitions.
- After carrying a 2-0 lead into halftime and recording the three-point result, Sounders FC is now 8-0-0 when leading at halftime – the best mark in MLS.
- Midfielder Marco Pappa made his first start for Seattle since June 28, attempting two shots in 63 minutes of action. In addition, Osvaldo Alonso returned to the pitch in a reserve role in the 76th minute. The club’s all-time leader in appearances and minutes played in his first match since August 1.
- In partnership with the American Red Cross, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Hanauer Family Foundation, Sounders FC fans helped to raise more than $20,000 at CenturyLink Field in support of those affected by the Western Wildfires in Washington and Oregon.
