TUKWILA, WASH. - Playing its third home game of the 2015 USL season, Sounders FC 2 (3-0-0, 9 points) earned three points against Portland Timbers 2 (2-1-1, 7 points) Saturday evening, winning the match 2-1. Midfielder Giuliano Frano netted the deciding tally in the 87th minute.
MEDIA RESOURCES
POST-MATCH AUDIO:http://sndrs.com/x4ks
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: http://sndrs.com/lsfk
Seattle remains one of only two undefeated teams in the Western Conference (Arizona United SC).
Portland’s Harrison Delbridge began the scoring in the 30th minute with a header off a free kick. Blair Gavin found Delbridge off a set piece, from which Delbridge cleanly headed in for the score past S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon to give Portland the 1-0 advantage.
In the 47th minute, Seattle pulled even on a converted penalty kick from Pablo Rossi. University of Washington product Andy Thoma’s foul on Andy Craven from behind set up the penalty attempt for Rossi, who blasted it home into the top left corner of the net. It marked the second goal for Rossi this season, who scored on a direct free kick against Sacramento Republic FC on March 21 en route to winning USL Player of the Week honors.
In the 88th minute, nice combination play between Frano, Craven and defender Aaron Long ended with Craven sending a curling lofted pass into the scoring area, where Frano pursued the ball and connected the one-touch strike past the charging keeper, Jake Gleeson. It was Frano’s first goal of the season.
It was the first ever comeback victory for Sounders FC 2, and Frano’s match-deciding strike stands as the latest goal in the club’s short history.
Forward Oalex Anderson, who was signed with S2 late last week, made his first professional appearance in the 87th minute, as well as Lorenzo Ramos, a Sounders Academy product, who came on the pitch for the final minute of the match. Midfielder Duncan McCormick made his first career start and garnered the club’s first attempt on goal in the first half.
S2 has now scored 10 goals between its first three matches, having scored four against defending USL champion Sacramento Republic FC in its home-opener on March 21, and four more against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on March 29.
Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson’s side will make its first road appearance on Thursday, April 16 at Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 5:00 p.m. PT
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |2 – 1| Portland Timbers 2
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Chipalo Street
Assistants: Joshua Haimes, Andrew Deuker
Fourth Official: Andrew Marihart
Attendance: 2,304
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and 50 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
POR – Harrison Delbridge (Blair Gavin) 30’
SEA – Pablo Rossi (penalty) 47’
SEA – Giuliano Frano (Andy Craven) 88’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR – Tim Payne (caution) 51’
SEA – Giuliano Frano (caution) 74’
POR – Rundell Winchester (caution) 90’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2- Charlie Lyon; Aaron Long, Nicholas Miele, Jimmy Ockford, Andres Correa (Oalex Anderson, 86’); Andy Craven, Amadou Sanyang, Giuliano Frano, Duncan McCormick (Qudus Lawal, 76’); Pablo Rossi (Lorenzo Ramos, 90’), Darwin Jones (Oniel Fisher, 60’)
Substitutes not used: RJ Noll, Kasey French, Damion Lowe
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 3
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 1
Timbers 2 – Jake Gleeson; Andy Thoma, Harrison Delbridge, Anthony Manning, Taylor Peay; Nic Besler (Steven Evans, 64’), Tim Payne, Blaire Gavin, Fatawu; Karlton Belmar, Rundell Winchester
Substitutes not used: Justin Luthy, Seth Carlisle, Matt David Rose, Shilo Tshuma
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 2
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 1
