MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Draws 2-2 at Home with Archrival Portland

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (11-9-8, 41 points) played to a 2-2 home draw with Cascadia rival Portland Timbers (7-11-9, 30 points) on Saturday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. The Rave Green jumped out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of first-half goals from Raúl Ruidíaz and Léo Chú, but the visitors found the net twice after halftime to force the draw.

Ruidíaz opened the scoring for Seattle in the eighth minute off an Albert Rusnák corner kick, redirecting a Jackson Ragen header into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season. It marked Ruidíaz’s 12^th goal in 16 matches against Portland, the most by a single player against any opponent since the Peruvian joined MLS in 2018. Chú doubled the lead for the Rave Green in the 30^th minute, converting a breakaway attempt past Portland's David Bingham. It marked the Brazilian's fourth goal of the season and first since he scored a brace against Vancouver on July 8.

After Sounders FC went down to 10 men in the 53^rd minute when Chú was issued his second yellow card, the visitors came back with a pair of quick goals in the 67^th and 70^th minutes. Just moments after entering the game as a substitute, Dairon Asprilla headed in his sixth career goal against Seattle (including postseason), then Evander converted a shot from distance three minutes later past the outstretched arms of Stefan Frei.

Following Saturday’s match, Seattle has a week off from competitive action before traveling to Texas to take on FC Dallas on Saturday, September 16 at Toyota Stadium (5:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Following tonight’s result, Sounders FC moves into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference for at least one night, as third-place LAFC plays on Sunday. With 41 points, Seattle sits one point ahead of LAFC and six points behind first-place St. Louis in the West.

• With the draw, Seattle is eliminated from contention in the 2023 Cascadia Cup standings, as is Portland. Vancouver Whitecaps FC moves on to win the regional trophy contested amongst Major League Soccer’s three Pacific Northwest clubs (their first Cascadia title since 2016).

• Tonight’s contest was the 119^th all-time matchup between Seattle and Portland dating back to 1975 in the original North American Soccer League. Seattle leads the all-time series 56-46-17.

• In the MLS era (since 2011 when Portland entered the league), Sounders FC moves to 14-14-9 in regular-season action against the Timbers.

• Scoring the match’s opening goal in the ninth minute of play, forward Raúl Ruidíaz recorded his fifth tally of 2023, good for second on the squad in scoring (Jordan Morris, 10 goals).

• Dating back to 2018, Ruidíaz now has 78 goals in all competitions for the Rave Green, just one strike behind teammate Fredy Montero for the all-time club lead in scoring.

• Ruidíaz’s strike was his 12^th in 16 matches against Portland, the most goals netted by a single player against any MLS opponent since the Peruvian’s league debut in July of 2018 (regular-season and MLS Cup Playoffs combined).

• Albert Rusnák earned a secondary assist on Ruidíaz’s goal via his corner-kick service (his fourth of the season), with teammate Jackson Ragen recording the primary assist for heading the ball onto the Peruvian (also his fourth of the year).

• Netting the second goal of the match in the 30^th minute, Brazilian attacker Leó Chú recorded his fourth goal of the year, accompanying his nine assists on the campaign.

• Ruidíaz recorded the assist on Chú’s goal, his first of the year.

• Portland’s Dairon Asprilla’s hot hand against Seattle continued on Saturday night, with the Colombian recording his sixth goal against the Rave Green (regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs).

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Portland Timbers 2

Sunday, September 2, 2023

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Jon Freemon

Assistants: Michael Barwegan, Logan Brown

Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 37,031

Weather: 82 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Jackson Ragen) 9’

SEA – Léo Chú (Raúl Ruidíaz) 30’

POR – Dairon Asprilla (Zachery McGraw 67’)

POR – Evander (Juan Mosquera 70’)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Léo Chú (caution) 31’

SEA – Léo Chú (caution, ejection) 53’

POR – Dairon Asprilla (caution) 68’

SEA – Joao Paulo (caution) 76’

POR – Sebastian Blanco (caution) 82’

POR – Dario Zuparic (caution) 90’+4’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; João Paulo (Reed Baker-Whiting 84’), Obed Vargas (Josh Atencio 71’), Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák (Xavier Arreaga 71’), Léo Chú; Raúl Ruidíaz (Nico Lodeiro 58’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Dobbelaere, Paul Rothrock, Fredy Montero, Héber

Total shots: 14

Shots on goal: 7

Fouls: 12

Offside: 2

Corner-Kicks: 5

Saves: 2

Portland Timbers – David Bingham; Dario Zuparic, Eric Miller, Zachery McGraw, Juan Mosquera; Evander, Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes (Dairon Asprilla 67’), Yimmi Chara (Sebastian Blanco 67’); Felipe Mora (Franck Boli 67’), Santiago Moreno

Substitutes not used: Aljaz Ivacic, Miguel Araujo, Claudio Bravo, Bryan Acosta, Larrys Mabiala, Antony

Total shots: 14

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 14

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 5

- SOUNDERS FC -