Seattle Sounders FC 2 rallies to take down Portland Timbers 2 for first win of young USL season

TUKWILA, Wash. — Seyi Adekoya and Zach Mathers scored goals within two minutes of each other in the second half, pacing Seattle Sounders 2 to a 2-1 victory over Portland Timbers 2 in Sunday’s USL Cascadia derby at Starfire Sports Complex.

Midfielder Villyan Bijev scored the game’s opening goal for T2 just after the second-half kickoff and had a look at the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 78^th minute, but was denied by a monster save from S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller that preserved the victory.

S2 had a good look at the opener in just the second minute off a nifty turn from Mathers that allowed the second-year midfielder to tap a cross in the direction of Irvin Parra, who appeared to have a clean look on goal. But T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh saved Parra’s shot to keep the game scoreless.

S2 had a couple of other chances before the first half ended, the first coming in the 14^th minute off a long run from midfielder Henry Wingo that ended with a save by McIntosh. The next came in the 28^th minute off a long pass from Sam Rogers that found Mathers streaking on goal. But Mathers’ shot was saved again and the contest would remain scoreless at halftime.

The visitors would grab the lead in the 51st minute, however, off a perfectly weighted shot from distance from Bijev that made it past a diving Miller and into the net.

But Adekoya would find the equalizer in the 64^th, making use of his blazing speed on a breakaway and slotting home the finish to level the contest at one apiece. Mathers then gave S2 the lead just two minutes later, tapping home a lofted feed from Wingo from point-blank range.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to level the contest in the 78^th after Miller was whistled for a foul in his own penalty box, giving Bijev a chance from the spot. But Miller laid out to this right to stuff the shot and preserve the final 2-1 scoreline.

S2 improves to 1-1-0 on the season following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Sacramento Republic FC. The squad will return to action for its first road matchup of the season next Saturday in another Cascadia matchup against Vancouver Whitecaps 2.