Coming off a victory over tough Mexican league club, Tigres UANL, Seattle advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. Djimi Traore and DeAndre Yedlin both had amazing, distance goals in the last match; Traore’s goal was world-class and floated around the Internet as a top goal for the week. Saturday night was no different as the Sounders and Timbers both used great goals to settle the score, finishing with a 1-1 draw.
Seattle and Portland are longtime rivals. This year marks the third consecutive Cascadia Cup between the two clubs. Seattle won in 2011 and Portland took home the trophy last season. Seattle leads the overall rivalry, stretching back to 1975 at 41-28-10. They also lead in aggregate goals during league play 9-6 since introduction of the Timbers to the MLS a few years ago.
Just a few days before the match, Seattle Sounders FC confirmed the signing of Levante striker Obafemi Martins. Martins hails from Nigeria and has been playing in various European leagues while in his early twenties; his contract buyout from Levante was over three million euros! Now 28, he is still in top form and is expected to link up well with Eddie Johnson for goals. Martins is obviously a Designated Player for the Seattle Sounders FC.
The Portland Timbers also had some new roster additions to boast, as they signed ex-Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre.
After a very windy start (Osvaldo Alonso’s early free kick to beat the keeper was gobbled up in a gust), Seattle appeared to be the stronger team. However, Ryan Johnson and Darlington Nagbe looked eager to score.
In the 13th minute, Steve Zakuani stole the ball and broke down the sideline past his defender and crossed beautifully to Johnson, who was open for the goal! A minute later, Portland crossed into the box and Johnson’s header hit the post. In the 20th minute, Johnson had a very clean stepover and a curving shot on target, but Donovan Ricketts was there for the save.
Michael Gspurning had some great saves in the first half, including an instance of mayhem during which he had two saves and was fouled.
One of the great matchups of the game was between Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and the Johnson/Nagbe duo. They exchanged fouls and steals for the full ninety and provided a healthy dose of energy and keen positioning.
The second half looked very much like the first half, lots of chances, lots of great defense, missed shots, and only one goal. Alonso fouled outside the Seattle eighteen; the ensuing free kick hit the crossbar. Yedlin, coming off of his amazing goal versus Tigres, tried another shot from outside. It was uncontrolled and off target to say the least. Portland possessed well for the middle third of the match, but Gspurning and the Seattle defense held strong.
In the 70th minute, Martins came in for Mario Martinez. Even though Martins looked a bit jet lagged and confused on the field, you can tell he is one of the more talented, quick players on the field. His lack of performance in the first match is understandable when considering he signed his contract a day earlier and has no real practice time with the Seattle Sounders FC. In no time at all I expect him to be a leader for the team.
Portland subbed in Rodney Wallace for Nagbe late in the match, which proved to be their best strategic play of the match. In the final minute of regulation, Portland chipped a ball forward into Seattle territory, which led to a corner. The corner was partially cleared, ricocheted a few times, and was popped into the box by Andrew Jean-Baptiste, and finished perfectly by Wallace. It was a devastating last ditch effort to say the least.
