Sounders Silence Timbers in Clash of Champions

Seattle Sounders defender Kelvin Leerdam in 2017. Photo by Sean Brown/CSM/Shutterstock (9253125ck)

The latest round of MLS action saw two reigning champions face-off as the 2019 MLS Cup winners Seattle Sounders played the MLS is Back tournament winners Portland Timbers at an empty Providence Park.

The match got off to a lively start, with Portland thinking they had scored after five minutes as Chris Duvall fired home a shot from a Diego Valeri free-kick. Unfortunately for the Timbers, the goal was deemed to be offside following a video review.

Valeri himself came close to scoring before the halftime break, lobbing the ball over the bar to send both teams into a goalless half time. Overall, the first half of the game was unexpectedly sluggish, with neither team finding their attacking stride.

While the second half looked to be much of the same, the Sounders’ Raul Ruidiaz finally broke the deadlock with a redirected finish off a Jones’ cross in the 72nd minute. 11 minutes later, Riudiaz struck again as he expertly chipped the ball over the Timbers’ keeper.

With the Timbers’ confidence clearly blown after conceding a second goal, the Sounders struck yet again with an 85th-minute goal. This time, Kelvin Leerdam was on the receiving end of a well-crafted move involving most of the Sounders’ midfield lineup.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, with the Sounders facing LA Galaxy and Portland coming up against San Jose.