The Portland Timbers came into Wednesday night’s match against the Seattle Sounders just three points behind the Western Conference leaders, but left it in joint first place after a stout defensive performance and an opportunistic goal saw them win out 1-0 at Providence Park.
The Timbers started the match on the back foot, absorbing pressure from the Sounders in the opening minutes and fending off a series of corner kicks from the visitors.
As has often been the case in this fixture, however, the team that started the match on defense was able to get forward in transition. After keeping the Sounders from any clear chances for 13 minutes, the Timbers pushed forward and snagged the opening goal on the counter.
A long ball from Dario Župarić, knocked down by a Seattle defender, fell to Jeremy Ebobisse in the attacking half. In the gap between the Sounders midfield and backline, Ebobisse played a weighted pass through the defense for a cutting run from Yimmi Chará into the box. Arriving at the ball ten yards from goal, Y. Chará was able to get a touch to it as Sounders keeper Stefan Frei rushed off his line, poking the ball forward and into the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Sounders came close to finding the equalizer in the 21st minute when a deflected ball fell to striker Raúl Ruidíaz in space in the attacking end. Looking up, Ruidíaz picked out Steve Clark well off his line and, with the Timbers keeper back-peddling, went for a chipped shot into the open goal. The ball arched past the desperate waving of Clark, but was not on target and bounced just wide of the frame.
Chances continued to come for the Sounders as the half progressed, with a number of dangerous balls into the Timbers box forcing the Timbers to scramble in order to maintain their lead. But, despite 11 first-half shots from the visitors, the Timbers were able to go into the half still up 1-0.
The second half continued with a physical tone as both teams looked to disrupt the attacking flow of their opposition. The testiness was typified by a 55th-minute flashpoint when Pablo Bonilla dragged Ruidíaz to the ground by his shorts in the Sounders end and the Seattle designated player responded by lashing out and kicking Bonilla in the leg, resulting in yellow cards for both players.
Chances continued to come for the Sounders through the second half, but few were clear-cut as they faced a packed-in Timbers defense. Despite regular forays forward, the Timbers were able to consistently return to their defensive shape and avoid giving the Sounders any good looks.
As the match ground on and the Timbers maintained their lead, Seattle increasingly through numbers forward and left gaps at the back, inviting the Timbers to break out in dangerous fashion. Although the Timbers were able to get forward regularly in the final minutes of the match, no more goals were on offer for either side.
The Timbers are away against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday at Providence Park. Wait. What?