Timbers Gut the Fish at Home 1-0 over Seattle

AUGUST 31, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: MLS Regular Season Seattle Sounders at Portland Timbers by Diego G Diaz.

“Who will survive and what will be left of them? The Portland Chainsaw Massacre.” The Timbers Army started the darby match against the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders with a masterclass TIFO! A multi layered display that finished with a chainsaw decapitated fish head “bleeding” red smoke.

Portland has been unbeaten in Providence Park since the last time they hosted the Sounders on 12 May ‘24. Seattle sat 5th place in the western conference, 3 points ahead of Portland, at kickoff. A win over Seattle would put Portland in 6th place with 40 points.

The Timbers were without Jonathan Rodriguez for yellow card accumulation and Felipe Mora, out for a red card in the last match against St. Louis. Mason Toye started as forward for the Timbers and Antony filled Jona’s spot on the starting roster.

Mason Toye and Antony take on Seattle by Diego G Diaz.

In the post match interview head coach Phil Neville was asked about the Mora suspension. With obvious frustration he said, “In terms of Mora, nobody knows what’s going on with Mora, it’s now 7 days since the last game and there’s been no announcement…we appealed the sending off and now we’ve played a game without hearing anything back…Nobody knows outside this football club whether it’s one game or two games…So, I’m like, what’s going on in this situation? Nobody knows anything.”

Phil started the match with a class move as his coaching staff took the pitch. While all of the Seattle coaches were seated, Phil ran down the touch line, motioning for his staff to follow, to shake hands with Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer.

There was a forced substitution for Seattle in the 5th minute when their senior goalkeeper, Stefan Frei, made a dive to save a shot by Anthony, and was kicked in the head while on the ground. Toye had made the run to collect on the deflected ball and collided with Frei. Frei, removed due to a head injury, was replaced by Andrew Thomas without Seattle using one of their substitution windows.

The Timbers made a massive team save in the 9th minute when the ball got tangled up in the box. Kamal Miller blocked a distance shot by Rothrock, Crépeau dove to collect out of caution, and Claudio Bravo was there with the clearance off Miller’s deflection.Portland’s defensive play was a noticeably tighter team effort compared to the 4-4 draw last week but it took some time for them to find their rhythm.

Offside Seattle goal attempt by Diego G Diaz.

Seattle had 5 corner kicks in the first 20 minutes of the match. Christian Roldan managed to get a flick into the net off a corner in the 19th minute, but it was called offside due to Pedro de la Vega. Jordan Morris had a header off a corner in the 33rd that was easily collected by Maxime Crépeau.

Toye and Juan Mosquera put together a beautiful shot on goal on the Timbers next possession. Toye collected off his chest in the center of the box, passed to Mosquera on the right, who took his time to serve up a great ball back in to Toye. Mason’s header missed just to the left of goal.

Mason Toye had another shot on goal in the 3 minutes of stoppage time added to the first half, but it was an easy save for Thomas. The first half ended 0-0.

Toye picked up where he left off during the start of the second half with a shot in the 52nd. Bravo sent in a great ball to the near side of the box where Toye was ready. His header bounced in front of the goal but was cleared by Nouhou.

Running to celebrate Mosquera’s goal Diego G Diaz.

Portland took back possession in the 55th minute after Evander’s corner kick, following Toye’s shot, was cleared away. Evander sent a pass from the midfield circle to Mosquera, who was making a big run up the right. Juan had room to set up a shot from about 19 yards out just right of center, and sent a rocket flying past Thomas for a Timbers goal!

It was Juan’s first goal of the season and the Timbers 700th regular season goal since joining the MLS in 2011. Portland has 55 goals this season with the team record being 61. With 8 games left in the season, it’s easy to predict that this will be another record broken by this team.

Seattle made two substitutions in the 56th minute brining on Timbers archnemesis, forward Raúl Ruidíaz, for de la Vega. Minoungou came in for Rothrock.

Crépeau made two big saves in the 66th and 69th after shots by Cristian Roldan and Joshua Atencio.

Mason Toye v Sounders Portland Timbers by Diego G Diaz.

Minoungou and Ruidíaz tried to make something happen for Seattle in the 68th minute but were brilliantly shut down by a Timbers team defensive effort. Minoungou managed to get around Evander with a struggle to send the ball in to Ruidíaz, who passed to Morris in the center of goal. Morris shot and it was Mason Toye with the massive save for Portland. He received a celebratory headbutt from Max for his effort.

Santi Moreno took two shots in the 74th and 77nd from about 35 yards out that both sailed a foot or two over the crossbar.

There was a round of substitutions made by both teams around the 80th minute mark and then throughout the rest of the match. Seattle sat Nouhou and Rusnák for Baker- Whiting and Leyva. Mason Toye came out for Portland with Eryk Williamson taking over the forward position. Erik Miller came on for Antony in the 89th. Christian Paredes came on for Evander in the 90+4.

Eryk Williamson by Diego G Diaz.

There were 6 minutes of stoppage time added to the second half. Seattle was desperate for an equalizer and started throwing everything they had at the goal. Roldan’s shot in 90+2 was just wide. Ruidíaz shot in the 90+6 was blocked leading to two corner kicks for Seattle. Ruidíaz had a header in the 90+7 off the first corner kick then Obed Vargas’ shot off the second corner was caught by Crépeau. Max fell on the ball and the final whistle blew. Timbers 1, Seattle 0. Fish Gutted.