Last night the Portland Timbers returned to Providence Park for their first match since winning the MLS is Back Tournament and things did not go well. After a scoreless first half the Timbers were torn apart by the visiting Seattle Sounders in the second, falling 3-0 after losing their composure and coming fully apart late in the match.
The Timbers appeared to have taken the lead early on after a Diego Valeri free-kick into the Sounders box was headed back to the top of the box by Bill Tuiloma. As the ball settled, Chris Duvall raced toward it and smashed a powerful volley that rippled the net inside the far post. It would not stand, however, as the first touch on the ball from Eryk Williamson was called offside following a review.
After the early chance, the Timbers were forced into the same defensive posture that was common throughout their run through the MLSIBT. Their “bend but do not break” ethos was tested several times in the opening half-hour as the Sounders sent dangerous crosses into the box that forced sliding blocks from Larrys Mabiala and a scrambling save from Steve Clark after a flicked-on ball from Jordan Morris nearly found Raul Ruidiaz in front of goal.
Having weathered the early going, the Timbers were able to push forward into the attack more often as the first half progressed. Their forays forward remained fruitless, however, as misplaced passes and poorly spaced runs spoiled as many attacks as the Sounders defense.
In the 45th minute, just as the clock ticked over into stoppage time, the Timbers came close to grabbing the lead. Working the ball through the Sounders’ end, the Timbers found Sebastian Blanco wide on the left flank. Blanco took a touch inside before cutting a pass back to the feet of Valeri just in front of goal. Although the goal was open and inviting in front of him, Valeri was off balance and put his first-time shot up and over the bar.
Early in the second half the Timbers and Sounders traded close calls. First, in the 48th minute, Gustav Svennson fired a close-range volley of his own up and over the bar after a Sounders corner. Then, in the 52nd minute, Jorge Villafana served in a curling cross that Jeremy Ebobisse put a head to but sent just high.
As the match continued, the Timbers committed themselves further and further forward, opening up space for the Sounders to hit on the counter.
After several chances for the visitors, the Sounders finally made one count in the 72nd minute. With most of the Timbers caught upfield and looking tired, the Sounders quickly got the ball down the pitch and pushed numbers into the box. Joevin Jones hit a diagonal ball into the Timbers box that found the feel of Raul Ruidiaz. The Sounders striker had his wits about him and stuck a boot past Tuiloma to flick the ball toward goal where it bounced off the post, off the back of Clark’s hand, and over the goal line for the most humiliating possible finish.
The Sounders doubled their lead in the 83rd minute when Ruidiaz ran on to a ball over the top that narrowly avoided a clearance by Mabiala. As Clark rushed off his goal line, Ruidiaz hit a graceful chip over the Timbers’ keeper that arched perfectly over the line.
Two minutes later the Sounders struck again on another break down the pitch. After a centering ball into the box from Will Bruin was received by Ruidiaz, the Sounders striker turned and laid the ball off into the path of fullback Kelvin Leedam. Running onto the ball, Leerdam crushed the ball toward goal, giving Clark and his defenders no time to reach before it hit the back of the net.
The Timbers are back in action on Wednesday when they head to Real Salt Lake for their second game since winning the MLSIBT.