Seattle Sounders 2, Portland Timbers 3
Century Link Stadium, Seattle, Wa
With today, win at Century Link Stadium in what used to be their house of horrors and thanks to a double from defender Larry’s Mabiala. The PTFC really honored its moniker of almighty with a comeback win after the locals tied the score in the 68 minute.
So far, in this campaign the Portland Timbers (7, 3, 5, 26 points) riding high with a display of excellent football filled with an amazing teamwork and unity in the field. As their hunger and determination to win is imperative in all of their matches lately.
Contrary to their opponents the local Seattle Sounders (3, 9, 3, 12 points) struggling in the campaign and posting a losing record and a number of important players in the DL, for manager Brian Schmetzer this was an opportunity to come out their slump.
After their last week, tie in Chicago with a come from behind goal that at the end both squads had their share of points. The momentum stricken Rave greens were determined at all cost of keeping their impeccable record in the plus against Portland.
With both squads in this edition round two of the Cascadia Derby, Seattle was looking for the win at all costs, to uplift their spirits and put behind their slump.
Before this match, Timbers manager Gio Savarese called this matchup like a final and today none of the 47,000 plus in attendance left disappointed after the contest exposed by these two titans.
As a first half very disputed by both Timbers and Sounders and with high degree of physicality in the game, going to halftime both squads were tied at zero goals and expecting a much contested second half by both sides.
This game for sure exposed both squads’ managers’ ingenuities and to see who can put in the field the best of strategies, with their initial elevens, which manager Savarese as always doing what he does best in his improvisations.
In this campaign, the Portland Timbers Boss has been very bold and does not hold back in making any moves in his starting lineups as the way he put in Dairon Aspirilla for an injured Sebastian Blanco and Lawrence Olum in the middle of the defensive midfield.
Moves that prove to be very accurate and effective as in the first half as always their Talisman Diego Valeri is one busy man running the offensive attack and the Portland Boys had a couple of near arrivals with Aspirilla and Mabiala near scores.
After the second half and with no scoring in the first, both squads went hard at work to put on a offensive display looking at all costs the win, proof in the 48 minute when a corner in favor of Portland taken by Diego Valeri.
With an open and opportune well-placed Larry’s Mabiala with a header opened the score in favor of the visiting Timbers with this marking back to back matches the center back scoring a goal in favor of his squad.
Then the local Seattle Sounders via a one two combination of Nicolas Lodeiro to Victor Rodriguez in the 51’ tied the score at one goal apiece, exciting you bet, as the Portland Timbers response six minutes later.
Once again, Diego Valeri connecting with Samuel Armenteros in an effective counterattack hat the Swede did not hesitated and shoots from 20 yards beating the Sounders keeper to restore the Timbers lead. Well shortly in the 68’, Seattle via a corner from Nicolas Lodeiro delivers the equalizer from chad Marshall shaking his defender.
However, the afternoon was to be for the Portland Boys and one man in the spotlight in Larry’s Mabiala who deliver in the clutch another header in the 74’ minute assisted by you know whom Diego Valeri. By sending, another corner to a well-placed Mabiala and beating this time Chad Marshall in a sort of payback to score the game winner via a header.
What a contest in the end, as both squads always delight us to an all-around display of amazing and one of kind football and today the Portland Timbers came with the win and leading the Cascadia Cup and series against Seattle.
For Gio three points of gold are amazing and taking his new challenge in the Portland Timbers helm one match at a time and a first for his Boys to win in Emerald City.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Craig Mitchelldyer 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer
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