It’s quite possibly the most famous goal in Seattle Sounders history.
July 1st 2009. It’s Seattle vs. Portland in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup at PGE Park in Portland, in Seattle's inaugural MLS season. The Timbers Army unveil a tifo display of Timber Jim chain-sawing down the Space Needle asserting their home field advantage from the get-go.
Roger Levesque’s response could not have been more apt.
On a quick start free kick at midfield, midfielder Sanna Nyassi combined with teammate Stephen King to spring himself loose on the right flank. Nyassi then banged in a low cross that Levesque met with a diving header for the opening goal, all within the first 48 seconds of the match.
Scoring within the first minute in your rival’s home stadium in a knockout match is great. But what happened next was even better. Levesque sprinted back to the midfield with teammate Nate Jaqua in tow at which Jaqua preceded to “chop” down Levesque like a tree to the delight of the traveling fans.
“I embrace being the guy that the Timbers love to hate,” said Levesque in an interview with Copa 90 years later.
The moment was then immortalized in Sounders lore with an ECS tifo display two years later that culminated in a panel depicting Levesque’s smiling face over the phrase “48 seconds.”
Check out the goal, the celebration, and the tifo all in the above video.
