The Portland Timbers earned a big win on Saturday in Seattle, a 3-0 victory over the Sounders that saw Jarosław Niezgoda, Santiago Moreno, and Dairon Asprilla all score for the Timbers, while Aljaž Ivačič earned the shutout in goal.
The Timbers would have early possession, but eventually the hosts would start getting more chances, and came close to taking the lead in the 17th minute when Claudio Bravo was forced to clear the ball off the line after a Seattle shot off a corner kick.
But in the 24th minute, the Timbers went into the lead when Sebastián Blanco played a nice soft chipped pass into the run of Jarosław Niezgoda, who headed home from near the far post, and the Timbers had the 1-0 lead.
About five minutes before the end of the half, Seattle fans were crying for a (likely deserved) penalty against Josecarlos Van Rankin for a foul on Nicolás Lodeiro in the box, but the referee did not call a foul. A few minutes later, Seattle’s Raul Ruidiaz had a golden opportunity to draw the scores level with a look at a largely open goal from near the penalty spot, but his shot rebounded off the left post. The Timbers held a 1-0 lead at the half.
Only about a minute into the second half, the tone of the match should change when Seattle’s Jackson Regan earned a second yellow card for a foul on Eryk Williamson, and the Sounders would need to try to play catch-up while down a player.
Despite the Timbers being up a player, the match was largely even for most of the second half, with neither team seriously threatening to score, but the Timbers benefitted from a handball call on Seattle’s Nouhou Tolo in the 80th minute, a particularly harsh call since the referee had not awarded a PK to Seattle in the first half. Santiago Moreno would take the kick and blasted just inside the left post for the goal, and the Timbers had a 2-0 lead.
Just a few minutes later, the Timbers added a third goal when Dairon Asprilla ended up open inside the Seattle box on a counterattack, and finished easily for the 3-0 win.
With the win, the Timbers are now on a five game unbeaten streak, and have not lost in Seattle since 2017, going 5-0-2 during that run.
Aljaž Ivačič had two saves while getting the win for the Timbers, while Stefan Frei had five saves for the hosts.
RECAP | Timbers spoil party in Seattle, defeat Sounders, 3-0 | Timbers website
HIGHLIGHTS | Timbers extend unbeaten streak with win in Seattle | Timbers website
