MATCH RECAP: Seattle community celebrates a full day of soccer at Lumen Field, but Rave Green fall short vs. Timbers

Seattle Sounders FC (12-4-6, 42 points) fell by a final score of 2-0 to the Portland Timbers (8-10-3, 27 points) on Sunday evening at Lumen Field, halting the Rave Green’s three-match winning streak in league play. Sebastian Blanco and Felipe Mora found the back of the net for the Timbers, with both goals coming in the second half. Portland’s win is its first of the season against Sounders FC, with Seattle having won at Providence Park on May 9 and August 15 earlier this season. In MLS play, Seattle moves to 14-11-7 in regular-season action versus Portland, and dating back to 1975 Sounders FC is 56-43-15. 

In a special day of soccer that celebrated the life and legacy of Seattle legend Jimi Hendrix, both men’s and women’s professional teams from Puget Sound took center stage at Lumen Field, with area soccer fans out in full force. The 27,248 that took in OL Reign’s 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns set a single-match NWSL attendance record, while the crowd of 45,737 for Sounders FC vs. the Timbers was the largest home attendance for the Rave Green since the 2019 MLS Cup (69,274). 

After a frenetic stretch that saw the club play six matches in the month of August, Sounders FC gets a brief respite from league play. The Rave Green now head into the FIFA international break, with three Sounders currently slated to join their respective national teams in the week ahead. Cristian Roldan is rejoining the United States Men’s National Team, while his brother Alex has been called-up for El Salvador. The two brothers will face each other in FIFA World Cup Qualifying on September 2 in El Salvador. Additionally, forward Raúl Ruidíaz has been named to Peru’s roster for FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Seattle returns to MLS action on Saturday, September 11 (2:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Prime Video, Univision, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). 

MATCH NOTES

• Tonight’s attendance of 45,737 was the largest Sounders FC home crowd since the 2019 MLS Cup on November 10, 2019 (69,274). Sunday’s match was the culmination of a special doubleheader day of soccer in Seattle that saw NWSL sides OL Reign and Portland Thorns play the first of the two matches earlier in the day. The teams also celebrated the life and legacy of Jimi Hendrix, with musical performances and special events scattered throughout the stadium during the day’s proceedings. 

• In the first match of the day, OL Reign defeated the Portland Thorns by a final score of 2-1. The crowd of 27,248 at Lumen Field set the single-match attendance record for an NWSL match. 

• Sunday’s match was the 114th all-time matchup between Seattle and Portland dating back to 1975 and their days in the North America Soccer League. Seattle Sounders FC is now 56-43-15 all-time against Portland. In the history of U.S. professional soccer, no two teams have met more.

• Seattle is now 14-11-7 all-time against Portland in MLS regular-season play.

• In 2021, Sounders FC’s home record is now 5-3-4. 

• After being called off last year due to the pandemic, the Cascadia Cup Council determined earlier this month that there would be a Cascadia Cup champion, with this match being the second in that competition. An important trophy for all three clubs, the Cascadia Cup is an annual competition between Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In the MLS era, Sounders FC has the most Cascadia Cups (four), with Vancouver holding three trophies and Portland holding one title. The Rave Green are the reigning Cascadia Cup champions (2019). 

• The road team has won nine of the last 12 regular-season matches in the Seattle-Portland rivalry, dating back to 2018.

• With tonight’s result, Seattle remains atop the Western Conference standings on 42 points, two points ahead of Sporting Kansas City. 

• Brian Schmetzer made just one change to the starting unit that defeated the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field on August 21, with Kelyn Rowe coming into the club’s four-man midfield in place of Fredy Montero. 

• Club captain Nicolás Lodeiro made his first start in front of the home fans on Sunday evening, having made his first start of the season last weekend in Columbus. Due to bouts with injury in 2021, the Uruguayan playmaker has made his way back into the team in recent weeks, having now played in six matches this season (two starts). Since joining Seattle during the 2016 summer transfer window, Lodeiro has appeared for Seattle 127 times in regular-season play, starting 123 of those contests, recording 33 goals and 58 assists.

• Before tonight’s match, Seattle fans got their first look at the club’s newest signing, Brazilian attacker Léo Chú. The 21-year-old was presented with his number 23 jersey by Senior Vice President of Soccer & Sporting Director Craig Waibel on the field prior to kickoff. 

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Portland Timbers 2
Sunday, August 29, 2021

Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Logan Brown, Micheal Barwegen
Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Tim Ford
Attendance: 45,737
Weather: 70 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

POR – Sebastian Blanco (Felipe Mora) 58’
POR – Felipe Mora 90’+5’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR – Josecarlos Van Rankin (caution) 44’
POR – Giovanni Savarese (caution) 45’
POR – Diego Valeri (caution) 76’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Alex Roldan (Nicolas Benezet 73’), Xavier Arreaga, Brad Smith (Jimmy Medranda 73’), Shane O’Neill (Fredy Montero 74’), Yeimar; Cristian Roldan, João Paulo, Nicolás Lodeiro; Kelyn Rowe (Will Bruin 88’), Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Spencer Richey, Nouhou, Danny Leyva, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Josh Atencio

Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 12
Saves: 0

Portland Timbers – Steve Clark; Josecarlos Van Rankin (George Fochive 74’), Claudio Bravo, Dario Zuparic, Larrys Mabiala; Sebastian Blanco (Diego Valeri 65’), Eryk Williamson (Cristhian Paredes 12’, Bill Tuiloma 65’), Diego Chara, Yimmi Chara (Santiago Moreno 74’), Dairon Asprilla; Felipe Mora

Substitutes not used: Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Aljaz Ivacic, Marvin Loria, Blake Bodily

Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 12
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 5