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Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders

Cascadia Clash ends with the Timbers on Top

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It was another beautiful Pacific Northwest night as the Seattle Sounders took on the Portland Timbers again in another Cascadia Cup clash. Last time out, fans saw an absolute beating from the Sounders as they topped their rivals 6-2 at Providence Park. Every match between these two is always a fun battle, so it was interesting to see who would come out on top this time.

Unfortunately for Sounders fans, the Timbers would get their revenge in the end. Thanks to horrible luck, poor finishing, and the post, the score would end 0-2 favor the visiting Timbers. So while the Sounders are still at the top of the table, things are potentially looking problematic for the would-be champions.

Lineups: 

Seattle Sounders: 5-2-2-1

Portland Timbers: 4-3-2-1

Match Report

“We are going to try and push past it. We have to. The team is not going to sit back and dwell on that.”

The setting was beautiful for this Cascadia Cup clash with the Portland Timbers. The prematch festivities were grand; Reign beat the Thorns, tributes for Jimi Hendrix and his family, and record-setting crowds in the stadium. Everything was setting up a potential Sounders win. So, what happened? 

The match started with the usual intensity you would expect with a Cascadia rivalry game. However, it looked like it could have gone either way. The Timbers began with the match’s first chance six minutes in as Dairon Asprilla lets off a wicked shot off the crossbar but ultimately leads to nothing. 

Only minutes later, tragedy struck the Timbers as defender Eryk Williamson suffered an ACL tear after getting his feet caught in the turf. From there, there was not much else that happened the rest of the half. A couple of decent chances for either team, but it was far from a dull fest. 

The second half was a bit of a different story. The Sounders came out ready to fight, but the Timbers came out wanting it. 

Overall, the Sounder’s defense, especially Xavi, was playing well. That was until the Timbers got their first goal after a disastrous back-pass from Yeimar. After that, Cleveland had no good choices to make as Blanco finished off a pass from Mora into an empty net to give Portland the lead in the 58th minute. 

That was when the Sounders turned it on. Seattle took control of the half and had a couple of great chances courtesy of Shane O’Neil and Raul in the 61st and 86th minutes. Unfortunately, O’Neil’s header hit off the post, and Clark stopped Raul’s rocket of a shot. Things were not going their way all night. 

Caught sleeping once again, the defense and Yeimar left Clevland alone with Mora. Cleveland came out to win a ball in the air but misjudged the bounce. As a result, Mora was able to gain control and chip the goalkeeper to double Portland’s lead in the dying minutes of the game. 

Post Match Thoughts

Sounders centerback, Yeimar, clears the ball despite a Timbers push in the first half of this Cascadia Cup clash.

Image via Max Aquino

While the Sounders created decent chances, their overall performance was relatively poor for significant game stretches. Considering their usual standard, this was a poor result. Seattle struggled to connect passes, and players seemed to show an uncharacteristic lack of familiarity. 

This loss feels like quite the letdown after coming off of an exceptional three games away from home. To add to the frustration, Lumen Field was the fullest it’s been since Seattle hosted the 2019 MLS Cup Final, and the stadium played host to an OL Reign 2-1 win over the Portland Thorns earlier in the day with over 27,000 in attendance to make history and set an NWSL record.

The Sounders won the Cascadia Cup series thanks to two wins earlier in the season at Providence Park, but the loss tonight continues a strange trend. You have to go back to May  2017 to find Seattle’s last regular-season win at home against the rags. They’ve had five such successes at Providence Park in that time. It almost certainly doesn’t mean anything, but that won’t make anyone feel better about it. For now, it’s just an oddity.

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Seattle Sounders

Why Weren’t The Sounders Favorites for MLS Cup?

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

The Seattle Sounders are first in the Supporter’s Shield race, first in the Western Conference, and they have yet to lose a game this season. So why did it take so long for the Sounders MLS Cup odds to go up? You would think they would have been favorites from the start.

The Sounders are having an excellent start to the season, their best ever in fact.  This has not come as a surprise because the Sounders are synonymous with winning. They have arguably been one of the best teams in MLS over the last 5 years. 

This year specifically has been great for the team. Best goal difference (+11), least goals allowed (3, ZERO from open play), and the second best goal scoring team on top of that (14 goals to SKC’s 15). 

So with all that in mind, you would think that they would have had the best odds to win MLS Cup right? Well, it took the bookies 7 games to finally put them at the top. Why? 

You could argue they should have been at the top from the beginning but it seems others have had their doubts. The reason for this could have been our injury problems to some key players. Many of which are out for a longer while.  

 We have yet to see Nico, our DP #10,  all season due to knee issues, JMO out for the season after picking up another torn ACL in Swansea, Delem out with an ACL tear, and now Frei out for the foreseeable future due to complications with his knee injury. All such key components to the team. 

For most teams, when you lose important players like that, your form has a tendency to take a big dip. That has to be exactly what they were thinking when the season started. That is why the Sounders were second on the list. No one knew what to expect, including Sounders fans. 

Thankfully, the team has stepped up so immensely in the absence of these players. Brian Schmetzler has changed the formation up and the team is performing. Playing a 5-3-2 has paid off immensely. Every single player has stepped into new roles and are playing with a tenacity I have not seen in a while. 

Image via Seattle Sounders FC Twitter

Even without Nico and JMO, the team is still creating plenty of chances and scoring goals. The new emergence of the kids is paying off as they look like they have been part of the team for years. I am excited to see how the team plays when Nico comes back, but for now fans can sleep comfortably knowing the team will still perform. 

As we speak, the Sounders are now getting the best odds in the league at +400 to win the MLS Cup, according to Sports Betting Dime. That’s higher than what LAFC had at the start of the season! 

Things can only get better from here for the Sounders. If they stay on this path, then there is no reason to believe that they won’t win the cup. They’ll also break some league records along the way. Let’s hope the bookies agree with us.

The Sounders now head into the upcoming FIFA international break, with the club pausing from league duty until Saturday, June 19 when they play LA Galaxy (6:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Prime Video, ESPN +)

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Portland Timbers

Wounded Timbers take all three points in San Jose

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers (2-3-0, 6 pts, 9th in West) defeated the San Jose Earthquakes (3-3-0, 9 pts, 4th in West) 2-0 at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA on Saturday, May 15th, 2021. 

Eryk Williamson assisted both goals while squaring off with San Jose’s Jackson Yueill in midfield. Yueill was selected over Williamson for the U.S. Men’s National Team U23 squad that missed out on the Olympics a few months ago.

Portland’s newest goalkeeper, Logan Ketterer, made a massive penalty save to keep Portland’s lead intact, and the Timbers would go on to win the match 2-0. 

With nine players on the injured reserve list, Timbers Head Coach Giovanni Savarese elected to “park the bus” and look for counterattacking opportunities in this match. You can be the judge how that worked out. 

Match Recap

The opening few minutes started with a jolt. San Jose maintained most of the possession—as they would for the rest of the match—but a high press by Portland forced a turnover, which Eryk Williamson expertly weaved into a chance. As he popped the ball through to Yimmi Chará, Williamson got decked at the edge of the box. Referee Rosendo Mendoza called an advantage, but it was not needed. 

Yimmi Chará’s first goal in 2021 MLS play took the pressure off Portland mentally, but not physically. San Jose would work the ball around Portland’s half relentlessly, as the Timbers relied on counterattacks and the occasional high pressure to shake the Quakes off the ball. 

One such counter came in the 30′, as Portland pushed for a corner that nearly led to a headed Dario Župarić goal—his shot kissed off the post. On the other end, a nervous moment for Logan Ketterer reminded the Timbers that the match was still very close. 

Second Half

The Timbers leapt out to a quick start again in the second half, with Andy Polo nearly assisting Felipe Mora merely seconds into the half. His shot missed wide right, but it was a good sign for the Timbers. 

That chance would be one of many for Portland in the first 15 minutes of the second period. Mora himself had a chance from his head (51′, blocked by defender) and his feet (55′, saved incredibly by J.T. Marcinkowski) before Bill Tuiloma had a header go wide. 

While the Quakes started breaking Portland’s front line, the chances continued. Pablo Bonilla had maybe the best of the second half, as his beautiful one-two with Mora gave him a decent look at goal in the six yard box. Unfortunately, his left-footed shot was over the bar. 

Just when it seemed like Portland were taking control, disaster struck. Claudio Bravo used his arm to block a Carlos Fierro cross, giving the ageless Chris Wondolowski a chance to level the tie from the spot—but Logan Ketterer rose to the occasion. 

Ketterer, who was brought on as an emergency loanee signing after three Timbers ‘keepers went down with injuries, had an amazing night between the sticks for Portland. In all, he made four saves and one punch—none more important than the penalty stop. 

The missed penalty gave Portland another jolt of confidence. The Timbers kept fighting as San Jose turned up the heat. 

Jeremy Ebobisse’s night ended somewhat conspicuously as he limped off the field after grabbing his calf. Dairon Asprilla had already been slated to come on, and Jebo limped around to the bench in the 68′. 

With Portland needing an insurance goal, Williamson came up big once again. After a bit of offensive pressure from Portland, Williamson whipped in a perfect ball to Marvin Loría, whose header over Marcinkowski gave the Timbers a 2-0 lead with just over 15 minutes to play. 

Andy Polo became an unsung hero from tonight, with a match-high four chances created despite having zero assists to his name. He would be replaced by Renzo Zambrano in the 72′. 

Diego Valeri, Jose Van Rankin, and Zac McGraw would make appearances in the 82′, replacing Mora, Loría, and Bonilla, respectively. 

San Jose chased a goal with everything they had, but Portland’s defense held firm. The best chance came and went as Benjamin Kikanovic watched his header spin wide of the post in the 93′, but the match was already out of reach. A huge win for Portland in such unlikely fashion will serve the Timbers well as the regular season heats up. 

Takeaways

Timbers fans (including myself) might not have had much faith in the team entering Saturday night, but Gio did. This match threw massive shades of the 2018 playoff run in Savarese’s inaugural season—a tough road win in which, on paper, the Timbers seemed outmatched, turned into a glorious victory as Portland put away enough chances. 

A massive win for the Timbers during an exceptionally-tough period, and counterattacking the way God (I mean, Gio) intended. 

Follow @doublepostpod for total coverage of tonight’s match (and every match!), including our postgame reaction podcast later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

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Portland Timbers

Expectations and Predictions: Portland Timbers at San Jose Earthquakes

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers (1-3-0, 3 pts, 12th in West) are in San Jose to take on the Earthquakes (3-2-0, 9 pts, 2nd in West) after both teams fell to the first-place Seattle Sounders in the last week. Portland hosted the Sounders on Sunday and fell 2-1, while San Jose hosted on Wednesday and lost 1-0. 

Shaking Things Up

San Jose’s impressive start has been led by the young American duo of Cade Cowell and Jackson Yueill.

Let’s start with Cowell. He is Matias Almeyda’s new center forward (after the departure of Danny Hoesen to Austin and the aging of Chris Wondolowski), but nothing is so straightforward with Almeyda. His man-marking system isn’t as intense as it once was, but it still requires constant awareness and movement from every Earthquake. Enter Cowell, who at 17 years old has the energy to contribute on offense and defense. He’s scored twice and assisted thrice in five matches, but his defensive numbers may be even more impressive. 

Cowell grades out near the top of most statistical comparisons for MLS forwards, including the 96th percentile for tackles + interceptions and the 96th percentile for tackles in the defensive third. Check out his full Football Reference Scouting Report to see all of his glittering green bars. 

Yueill, a defensive midfielder who was part of the U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team that ultimately failed to qualify for the Olympics, has been the glue in the center of San Jose’s 4-3-3 so far this season. He scored twice against DC United and grades out well as a high-volume passer. 

The Quakes enter this match scoring two goals per game (T-2nd in MLS). Their three wins (Houston, DC United, and Real Salt Lake) have included some memorable goals, including Yueill’s stunner against DC and the immortal Wondo coming onto score a brace for a comeback win in Utah. 

Short-staffed in Stumptown

Overall, this is not the time Portland want to be playing San Jose (or really anyone, for that matter). The Timbers are perhaps the most banged-up team in MLS, with an injury list so long I had to double-check it. 

There are five starters on this list, not including second- and third-string goalkeepers. After Jeff Attinella and Larrys Mabiala left Sunday’s game against Seattle with injuries, the news only got worse. Giovanni Savarese confirmed this week that Diego Chará, the man historically most critical to Portland’s success, also strained a hamstring. (His backup, Cristhian Paredes, is still out for an extended period.) 

The Timbers added a goalkeeper to the roster on Thursday, signing Logan Ketterer to a loan deal from USL-Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC. With 19-year-old Hunter Sulte as the only healthy goalie on the roster, this makes a ton of sense. Ketterer was actually one of the best ‘keepers in the USL-C last season, ranking first in regular season clean sheets (8 in 16 matches) and fifth in save percentage (78.3%).

Not to mention Sulte has had one of the rudest introductions to a pro career one could ask for: a four-goal thrashing in Dallas with a C-team lineup and a second-half-substitute appearance while losing to your bitter rival (which so happens to be the best team in the league). The goals he’s given up haven’t even necessarily been his fault, but that’s just the way it goes. 

With all that in mind, here’s my prediction for Portland’s starting XI on Saturday:

The Timbers do have Jeremy Ebobisse back, and I have a hard time thinking that Gio will prefer Dairon Asprilla over JeboOnTheWing™ if the latter is up to full speed. I would not be surprised to see Jebo starting at center forward and Asprilla or Marvin Loría in that winger spot.

Prediction

I’m not feeling very well about this match, and it’s not just because I ate Cheez-Its for breakfast and lunch today. I would applaud a draw, though I understand a loss is very likely. The only silver lining is that this will be San Jose’s third match in a week, but I still expect them to be prepared.

Either way, we’ll see, but I’m predicting a 2-1 loss Saturday night. 

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Portland TimbersSeattle Sounders

Timbers suffer brutal 2-1 loss to Seattle in Providence Park

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

After a disappointing week that saw the Timbers concede four times to FC Dallas and thrice to Club América, Portland returned home to Providence Park for a date with their bitter rivals, the Seattle Sounders. 

Portland missed chance after chance, including two from the penalty spot, before Seattle put two second-half goals in. Bill Tuiloma’s late free-kick made it close, but not close enough to threaten a result. The match would end 2-1 to the Sounders. 

Match Recap

Portland were without regular starting goalkeeper Steve Clark, as well as would-be starters Sebastián Blanco and Jarosław Niezgoda. Forward Jeremy Ebobisse made his return to the starting XI but would be replaced by Felipe Mora after an hour. Playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro was out for the Sounders, though it hadn’t meant much so far this season. 

Portland were on the front foot in the first half, but missed a series of chances in the 30th to 42nd minutes—and by a “series” I mean four or five half-chances and three more legitimate ones. The worst miss came from Ebobisse in the 40′, slipping as he fired a left-footed shot wide. 

The first major moment of the match came in the 55′ as Ebobisse was brought down by Shane O’Neil in the box for a penalty. Valeri stepped up and had his attempt saved by Frei, but was awarded a second chance after Nouhou encroached and Frei came off his line. 

Valeri’s second attempt offered no added joy for Timbers fans. His penalty smacked off the post and while his rebound went in, it would have required Frei touching it to count. Valeri was immediately subbed off for Dairon Asprilla, and the match continued at 0-0. 

Ebobisse was also replaced by Felipe Mora in the exchange, and Andy Polo would replace Marvin Loría shortly after. 

Portland’s attack struggled mightily without Valeri. His creativity and oversight of attacking combinations usually out Portland in successful positions, but post-60′ the Timbers resorted to getting the ball wide before stalling and losing it. 

Few minutes passed before the deadlock was broken. Ruidiaz stumbled over Tuiloma and Attinella on the other end, culminating in a penalty for the Sounders. Ruidiaz took the pen and slid it to Jeff’s right, opening the scoring in the 62′. 

Not a minute after the ensuing kickoff, disaster would strike once more for Portland. Attinella went down with a non-contact injury after playing the ball with his left foot and needed to be replaced by 19-year-old Hunter Sulte. 

“How many times do you see three goalkeepers going down at the start of the season?” lamented Giovanni Savarese post-match. While he praised Sulte’s performance (one save, 3/5 accurate passes) he also noted that it was an exceptionally tough spot to be put in. 

Ruidiaz nearly drew another penalty in the 76′ and Williamson couldn’t get on the end of a cross at the other end. It would be punished in due time. 

A Seattle free kick from the right side of Portland’s defense found the head of a barely-onside Fredy Montero, who beat Sulte to give Seattle a 2-0 lead in the 79′. 

Halfway through the six minutes of added time, Bill Tuiloma (of all people) blasted a beautiful curling free kick past Stefan Frei. Tuiloma’s fourth goal for the club was his most impressive, but the Timbers couldn’t muster another one. The match ended 2-1 to the visitors in a match that looked like it was Portland’s to lose. 

“You don’t get some things in your favor that you’re supposed to get,” said Gio. “Unfortunately, the score doesn’t show what we gave to the game today.” 

Other Notes

  • Joao Paulo was showing his quality in the middle of the field for Seattle, stopping numerous attacks with well-timed challenges and springing the Sounders forward in the same role Diego Chará has historically played for the Timbers. 
  • Nouhou Tolo and Diego Chará were locked in a battle during the first half, with Chará getting the better of the always-unpredictable Nouhou early. A caution was issued to Nouhou after taking down Diego as he broke away down the right. 
  • Portland’s overall passing play was amazing, building up and transitioning well from defense-to-attack. Now the focus shifts back to finishing chances, a la 2019 pre-Brian Fernández. 

Follow @doublepostpod for total coverage of tonight’s match (and every match!), including our postgame reaction podcast later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

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Seattle SoundersVancouver Whitecaps

Fredy Heads Back Home: What this means for Whitecaps and Sounders

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

Here we go!! Freddy Montero is officially signing for his former team, the Seattle Sounders. He will be signing a one year contract with options for 2022 and 2023. He will be joining in on preseason training after the mandatory quarantine and testing protocols. There had been rumors circulating his move to Seattle once contract talks stalled for the Whitecaps late last year. 

Everything about the move just makes sense for him. The Sounders were the first team in MLS to give him a platform to build on, scoring 60 goals in his time there. He has his coffee business, which to be fair it’s pretty damn good. Then lastly, his family. They love it in Seattle and can frequently be found residing there during the offseason. 

This tweet just says it all…

Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzler on Fredy coming back, 

I have a lot of fond memories of Fredy Montero in a Sounders jersey, and I’m pleased to welcome him back to the club,

He has always been a dynamic attacker with a strong finishing touch. I’m always happy to have players that can score goals and am looking forward to getting him on the training pitch as our 2021 preparations ramp up.

Montero spent the last 3 seasons in Vancouver tallying 24 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. While his second stint at the club did not go as well as the first, his contribution to the team will not be forgotten. He was arguably the most creative player this last season and helped get that spark back in the team.

What does this mean for the Whitecaps?

In case you guys can’t tell by my writing, I am a HUGE fan of Fredy Montero, so this move away from the Whitecaps does sting a little bit. It just means I can’t write about him anymore… But beyond that, depending on who is making their way to Vancouver, this could be detrimental to the team.  

While the numbers don’t speak for themselves, Fredy did a lot for the Whitecaps, especially in this last season. In the absence of a #10, he would be the creative outlet up top to help create space for Cavallini to get a shot on net. He would also drop in deeper to start the run of play. Whenever he was on the pitch, the team just played that much better. 

Like I said above, this all depends on how the Whitecaps spend and where they spend it. They have made some good signings thus far and some solid rumors have come through, but nothing is concrete. If they they don’t find a #10 to replace what Fredy brought, then it will be another disappointing season for the Whitecaps.

How about for the Sounders? 

This move could mean a lot for the Sounders. Montero is going to Seattle on a free transfer; because of this, there is still plenty of cap room for other marquee signings. It is a very low transfer and they are bringing in a player with some excellent experience. He is also a club legend and it is always fun seeing players come back to former clubs. He will be fighting for a place as the second striker behind Ruidiaz. 

Fredy Montero is still a goal scoring threat. He can easily create something out of nothing. With the Sounders he will not have to worry about that though. They are one of the most creative teams in the league in front of goal. This still doesn’t answer the question, what does Fredy coming home for the Sounders? It’s quite simple. 

Not only is he getting the chance to potentially retire with the club that started it all, but he is bringing that much needed experience in the team. He is also bringing some excellent depth into a title chasing team. Fredy is a natural leader and combine that with everything else, there is no reason but to expect him to make an immediate impact. 

The Sounders have blessed us with a little goal compilation via twitter so have at it!

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Uncategorized

Third Time is Not The Charm… Whitecaps Fall to Sounders 2-0

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda


Image via MLS

Image via MLS

It was a short rest for the Whitecaps as they faced  Western Conference leaders, the Seattle Sounders last night. This match came after just 3 days of rest from their previous win against San Jose Earthquakes. The Whitecaps made wholesale changes to their lineup after Saturday, fielding a club MLS record seven Canadians in their starting XI. Let’s get into the rest of the match!

Lineups:

Vancouver Whitecaps: 3-4-3

Plenty of notes for the starting XI today!:

  • Second match in 4 days

  • An MLS record 7 Canadians in the starting XI

  • Formation Change to a defensive 3-4-3 (more like a 5-4-1)

  • Only 3 players from Saturday’s win in starting XI. Bush, Bikel, and Vanko

  • Club set record for most appearances played by Canadians in a single season (137)

Seattle Sounders: 4-2-3-1

Match Stats

VWFC Man of the Match: Derek Cornelius

Referee: Fotis Bazakos

Scoring Summary

54′ – SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (assisted by Nouhou Tolo)

60′ – SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (assisted by Raúl Ruidíaz)

Statistics

Possession: VAN 31.9% – SEA 68.1%

Shots: VAN 4 – SEA 11

Shots on Goal: VAN 0 – SEA 4

Saves: VAN 2 – SEA 0

Fouls: VAN 12 – SEA 6

Offsides: VAN 0 – SEA 3

Corners: VAN 4 – SEA 3

Cautions

62′ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (yellow)

84′ – VAN – Cristian Dájome (yellow)

90′ – VAN – Derek Cornelius (yellow)

Match Review

A pair of second half goals sealed the deal as a tired out Whitecaps lose to the Seattle Sounders 2-0. DP striker Ruidiaz’s heroics for the Sounders take them back to the top of the West. To be 100% honest, the result was expected. The Sounders are arguably the best team in  the league. Even with us being on a good run of form, this was always going to be a tough match. With the loss, the Whitecaps were unable to climb up the table, staying put at seventh place and above the barely playoff line with two matches remaining. One against Portland and the other against LA Galaxy.


Image via Sounders FC twitter

Image via Sounders FC twitter

The first half started off fairly evenly as both teams almost seemed to want to play for a draw. The Whitecaps stayed defensively sound all half and did not let the Sounders through. Vanko and Cornellius shut everything down on that right hand side. There were a few times where Andy Rose was exposed by potential league MVP, Jordan Morris, on the left. On the other side of the ball, the Sounders seemed to be testing us to see how we would press and how we would react without the ball. Mostly playing out of the back and keeping possession. Ultimately, both sides stayed complacent as the half ended 0-0. 

The second half was a different story. After the break, the Sounders came out ready for a result. They  pressed the Whitecaps until they found the net not even 10 minutes into the half. 

Although initially ruled offside by the assistant referee, the Sounders struck in the 54th minute as Nouhou spun a deep cross into the box that Ruidíaz smashed into the back of the net. After some VAR review, the center referee ruled it onside making 1-0 for the Sounders. Seattle was able to put up one final goal as Yeimar sent a long ball down the middle of the pitch to find Ruidíaz in the box, where the Peruvian cut back a pass to the middle of the box where none other than Nicolás Lodeiro finished into the net in the 60th minute. 

The Whitecaps could not get anything going for them offensively after that. The Sounders bunkered down and did not allow anything to come through. This was even after MDS brought in our star front 3 of Dajome, Fredy, and Cava all at once. None of the subs had much impact on the match as the final score was 2-0 in favor of the visiting Sounders. 

Post Match Thoughts

The first half was probably the best defensive half of football I have seen the Whitecaps play in a while. Especially considering their opponent and their front 4. Things just seemed to be clicking tactically. On paper it started out with a typical 3-4-3, but then in transitions back, it would seemingly turn into a 5-4-1. I know it’s not the prettiest way to play, but hey, it worked for a half. 

Derek Cornellius and Vanko played their hearts out and left it all on the pitch. I have been sceptical on Vanko most of the season, but since we’ve signed him permanently, he’s easily been one of the better defenders. Both players are super young, so I know they can only get better. I still think Godoy and Vanko are our best CB pairing going forward, but in the eventuality that we lose Godoy, DC can easily slot right in. 

Second half was another story… The team looked like it had lost a bit of their shape. They tried to press too much and got caught in the counter press that the Sounders are so good at. It makes sense why we came out like that at the start. We initially were playing for the draw, but there were opportunities to go for the goal. The battle was lost in the midfield. That was evident in the stat line and heat map below.


This is the heat map for the Whitecaps

This is the heat map for the Whitecaps


This is for the Sounders

This is for the Sounders



whoscoredratings2.png

While I love Baldisimo, he is not a defensive midfielder. Maybe he would have been better suited for the wingback role, switching with Bikel.

The kids did alright. This was a learning match for most of them and I couldn’t be more happy with the result. 

Baldisimo balled out today. While DC was MOTM for the Whitecaps, I thought Baldi deserved a shout as well. He kept possession so well and picked passes like it was nothing. He looked like he belonged on that pitch. He has been fighting for a starting spot, and I feel that he is so close to getting it. MDS should look into finding a way to get him into the team. He deserves it. 

He even got a new fan! Kristian Jack of TSN had nothing but praise for the young Canadian. We’ve all been fans of the kid all season, but it’s still good to see him finally get some more recognition. 

The Whitecaps will be staying in Portland for their final two games of the regular season. Although this time around, they will be serving as the away side in another Cascadia clash with the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. Catch the match live on Sunday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. PT on TSN and ESPN+

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Portland Timbers

Timbers concede late again, draw Seattle 1-1

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers conceded a 93rd minute equalizer to the Seattle Sounders, dropping stoppage time points for the second straight match. Portland’s Andres Flores scored his first goal in over a year in the 10th minute before Will Bruin did the same deep into stoppage time.

Lineups

Ruidiaz remained out after a positive COVID test last week, but it was still a strong lineup from the home team.

Ebobisse is out of the squad after

Match Recap

Flores had a poor pass to start the match and Seattle were on the front foot.

Portland settled into the match about five minutes in, getting some possession strung together and threatening a cross or two.

Portland’s efforts were rewarded in the 11th minute as Villafana’s cross found Mora in the box. Mora took up two defenders, which freed up space for a Yimmi Chará strike at goal. It was saved right to Flores, who pounded the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

As we were frequently reminded, Portland leads the league in points conceded after scoring the first goal.

The Timbers picked up right where they left off after the goal, playing careful with possession and nearly capitalizing with a fantastic combo on the left side between Jorge, Yimmi, and Valeri—the latter scuffing the crowded attempt wide.

Seattle had a few quick flights forward, but Portland’s defense quelled each chance before they could develop. Overall, though, Portland were owning the midfield battle.

Referee Ismail Elfath backed into a closing Jordy Delem in the 25th minute, who got the wind knocked out of him and spent significant time down on the pitch. Delem had to be substituted for Alex Roldan, making it two sets of brothers on the pitch.

The match eased into a sense of bitterness on both sides—notably Seattle, who were already feeling shorted by Elfath’s inadvertent injuring of Delem and were reeling from small, careless fouls by the Timbers.

Neither team found a groove for the remainder of the first half.

Williamson earned a free kick on the edge of the 18 by flicking the ball up to Joao Paulo’s hand in the 47th minute, but Valeri’s free kick was straight into the wall.

There were shouts for a Portland penalty in the 54th minute as Valeri went down in front of Joao Paulo, but it was Seattle with the chance on the other end, needing a Farfan clearance at the back post off a dangerous cross from the left.

Clearing the ball became a big concern for the Timbers, but luckily Nouhou was taking the final shot in the 57th minute.

Diego Chará went down holding his head in the 59th minute after knocking heads with Leerdam. He got checked out and returned to action after a minute.

In the 64’, Farfan conceded the softest of free kicks on the right side before Lodeiro’s free kick smacked the one-man wall of Flores right in the face. He spent a considerable amount of time getting checked on before returning to play.

Leerdam got Seattle’s best chance of the match so far, but his header from inside the six was over the bar.

The Timbers were forcing every pass into the final third, but nothing was connecting and the Sounders were playing through Portland’s mid after breaking the light press. Flores came off for Bonilla in the 73rd minute in what seemed like a defensive sub, but Bonilla’s first contribution was a corner-winning combination.

A failed control by DC21 at half-field saw Morris and Lodiero racing Farfan and Bonilla, but Morris’ angle was cut off and Lodeiro’s shot drifted over the bar.

Seattle really started putting pressure on the Timbers, who did what they do best defensively—shrinking the space and trying to counter.

Niezgoda replaced Mora in the 83’, just before Shane O’Neill sent a wide open header wide of the far post.

The match morphed from “Seattle having most of the ball and attacking with it” to “Seattle having all of the ball and attacking ferociously.”

Williamson nearly dribbled through Seattle’s entire team, but Nouhou was there to clean up the mess when he got to the 18.

Portland were taking full advantage of their drawn fouls, and the seven minutes of stoppage time reflected that and the injuries.

Seattle’s eighth corner of the night was flicked on and put home by Will Bruin at the back post in the 93rd minute. It’s his first goal in over a year.

Seattle crossed the ball thousands of times in the final few minutes, but Portland managed to uphold the draw without clearing the ball.

As the final whistle blew, Portland once again left the field with a point that felt like a loss.

[cover via @SomosTimbers]

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Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Lose Back-to-Back Cascadia Matches

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez


Image via Whitecaps FC Twitter

Image via Whitecaps FC Twitter

This was another tough one to take in as the Whitecaps lose 3-1 in Seattle. This is the second time this season that the Sounders have put 3 past the Whitecaps. It was a tough game for the Whitecaps, who started out strong, nearly snatching an early lead, before ultimately falling apart early in the second half, as the Sounders scored their 3 goals in 15 minutes to close out the match.

Lineups:

Vancouver Whitecaps: 4-4-2

The Whitecaps made only two changes to the starting 11 after the loss to Portland last week.

  • Derek Cornelius for Cristian Gutierrez

  • David Milinkovic for Owusu

Besides the player changes, there were a couple of players moving positions as well.

  • Andy Rose back to Center Midfield

  • Ali Adnan back to Left Back
    Seattle Sounders: 4-2-3-1


Match Stats:

VWFC Man of the Match: Fredy Montero

Referee: Timothy Ford

Scoring Summary
46′ – SEA – João Paulo
53′ – SEA – Érik Godoy (own goal)
58′ – SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (assisted Jordan Morris)
65′ – VAN – Fredy Montero (penalty kick)

Statistics
Possession: SEA 69.6% – VAN 30.4%
Shots: SEA 22 – VAN 3
Shots on Goal: SEA 9 – VAN 2
Saves: SEA 1 – VAN 7
Fouls: SEA 10 – VAN 17
Offsides: SEA 0 – VAN 1
Corners: SEA 7 – VAN 0

Cautions
26′ – VAN – Janio Bikel (Yellow)
49′ – SEA – João Paulo (Yellow)
52′ – VAN – Lucas Cavallini (Yellow, misses next match)
65′ – SEA – Yeimar Gómez (Yellow)
68′ – VAN – Janio Bikel (Red)

MATCH REVIEW

This tends to be the story of the season. Another loss, another disappointing performance. The first half started out fairly solid to the Whitecaps standards. Just so as long as you ignore the stat line. Which do not favor the Whitecaps at all, but I digress. 

The Sounders would come out strong, nearly scoring inside the first minute. Which gave the Whitecaps a big scare. Especially considering they conceded goals in early minutes the last two matches. Anyways, after a nice Ruidiaz flick off of a nice Kelvin Leerdam cross, Lodeiro lined up for a shot just outside of the box, but his curled shot hit just outside the goal post. 

At the other end just minutes after, the Whitecaps would nearly break the deadlock with a surprise opener, as Ali Adnan sent in a pin point cross right into the box, finding Lucas Cavallini at the edge of the 6. The striker sent his shot right at Frei to give the Sounders some breathing room. 

After these semi exciting opening moments, the rest of the first half was a bit of a dull one. A few chances here and there for both teams, but it ultimately ended at 0-0 heading into the break. The Whitecaps stayed defensively sound for most of the half denying any chances that the Sounders brought into their final third. I was pretty impressed myself, considering the debacle that was the 6-0 bashing from LAFC just two matches ago. 

Unfortunately, the Sounders were gearing up and getting ready to lay it on for the second half. Thus, crushing the Whitecaps’ dreams of taking home a point in Seattle. The Sounders opened up the scoresheet just minutes after the second half whistle with a wonderful strike at the top of the box from Joao Paulo. Caps’ defense was too slow to react as Joao had all the time in the world to set that up. 

Not soon after, the boys conceded an own goal from CB Erik Godoy after a shot from Roldan. The shot itself was nothing special by any means, but knowing that Merideth got a hand on just for it to SLOWLY trickle in after rolling off of Godoy’s leg. 

Sounders would continue to rain down on the Whitecaps as a completely unmarked Ruidiaz scored a header after a flick from Jordan Morris. Making it 3-0 after 59 minutes. This goal sums up the Whitecaps struggles defensively. It’s the little things like marking that tend to just get away from them. 

Things start to get interesting for the Whitecaps. Throughout the second half, there were times where the Whitecaps looked dangerous and made some great passing sequences. Then came the 62nd minute when Cavallini got fouled by Yeimar  inside the box resulting in a red card for the Sounders defender. The ref had to take some time to look at VAR considering the foul and the fact that it was ruled a penalty. The red card was rescinded and changed to a yellow. But thing is, and this is coming from a Whitecaps writer, it was NOT a penalty. Nor was it even a foul. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cava, but the man did not get touched. 

This is a perfect example of how inept MLS referees are. The picture was right there in front of him. Yes Cava was through on goal, and yes Yeimar did come to defend, but there was not enough contact to warrant a penalty or a card. Despite the controversial call, the man Fredy Montero buried it from the spot making it 3-1.  With the penalty, this will make it 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches. He is a man on fire. Carrying this Whitecaps team over the line. 

POST MATCH THOUGHTS

It seems as though I say the same things regarding the team and what they need to do to improve. And until things do change, then I will continue to preach it. The lack of possession is what needs to be addressed now. I know that the Sounders are always a team that keeps possession well, but this match was just something else. 30% is all the Whitecaps had the whole match. The whole match, it wasn’t even a contest. I have said it before, and even MDS has said it, but there is a strong need for a #10 or some sort of creativity in this team. There is almost no identity. 

 The team started out really well in the opening 30 minutes. It’s just staying consistent that’s the problem. Minus the opening chance from Cava, there just was not much else going for the team. It almost feels like he’s lost the team as he isn’t seemingly able to sort out the defensive mistakes. MDS said it himself earlier today in a presser, 

“We defend too low, we’re not able to press the way I want us to press, as well”

That says it all right there. He just can’y get them to play how he wants. This is now the third loss in a row and I just hope we can get out of this rut. 

On a positive note, there is plenty of quality in the side. It’s just about using them correctly. The Whitecaps are only 3 points away from a playoff spot. All it takes is one win to get the momentum back and running. They play San Jose Earthquakes next, and this is the perfect time to start that run. They just have to want it more. 

The Whitecaps look to bounce back without Cava and Bikel when they visit San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PST live on TSN and ESPN+

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Portland Timbers

Timbers temper Sounders at home, 1-0

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers defeated the Seattle Sounders by a score of 1-0 Wednesday night, thanks to an early goal by Yimmi Chará. It was Chará’s third goal in as many games after returning from a shoulder injury.

Portland sealed up Seattle’s offense to preserve their first shutout since before the COVID-19 shutdown.

This was the first Timbers-Sounders match won by the road team since the 2018 playoffs. Relive tonight’s action below!


[Image via @TimbersFC ]

[Image via @TimbersFC]

Lineups

Match Recap

Portland conceded the bulk of possession to Seattle in the first 25 minutes, but they only needed a footful of touches to create the first goal. Ebobisse intercepted a pass in midfield before slotting a perfect ball through to Yimmi Chará, who found the back of the net with ease. Perfect pass, perfect run, 1-0 Timbers!

Raul Ruidiaz had a shot at chipping Steve Clark from distance in the 21st minute, but he missed wide.

The Sounders pressed on in the first half, creating chances and half-chances but never finding the finishing touch.

Some chances were thwarted by poor play from Seattle, while others were cut out by the likes of Diego Chará (no surprise there).

Also, I would be remiss to not mention Nouhou’s rash tackle on Eryk Williamson in the 36th minute.

This trend continued in the second half. Seattle had just as many shots on target as the first half—three—but from three less total shots (11 to 8).

This match could have changed drastically ten minutes into the second half, when Raul Ruidiaz lashed out at Pablo Bonilla. There’s no doubt that the Timbers right back fouled Ruidiaz, but that loss of composure should have been a clear red card.

The play went to video review and was looked at by center referee Allen Chapman, but it only resulted in cautions for both Ruidiaz and Bonilla.

With Ruidiaz staying on the pitch, Seattle continued to possess and move the ball relentlessly. Whether it was Lodeiro, Paulo, Morris, or Christian Roldan, Seattle sent shot after shot either wide of the goal or safely into Clark’s hands.

It’s worth noting that while the Timbers conceded loads of shots and possession, they generally did a good job of mitigating clear-cut dangerous opportunities.

The Timbers were not without their attacking moments, either. Cristhian Paredes broke forward with scoring chances on multiple occasions late in the match, but the Paraguayan couldn’t make it happen in the final third.

Felipe Mora also nearly found himself in on goal, but was dispossessed by the last defender.

Speaking of defenders, Larrys Mabiala got some action at the end of the match after being subbed on for Diego Valeri in the 86th minute. Good to see him back out there, hopefully he’ll be back to 90-minute strength sooner rather than later.

All in all, solid performance from the Timbers. Yimmi obviously gets Man of the Match, and huge props to Ebobisse for the fantastic assist as well.

Some other final things to remember:

  • Seattle were one of the hottest teams in the league coming into this match

  • Portland now have a 2-1 edge edge in the season series against Seattle

  • Portland are square on points with the Sounders at the top of the West, despite having a goal difference of +2 (Seattle’s is +15)

Portland will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in Providence Park this Sunday at 7pm PT. The local TV broadcast will be ROOT Sports, so plan ahead. Go Timbers!

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