Sunday was perhaps the worst either team had entered Major League Soccer's premier rivalry in recent history. As the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders met for the first time this season at Providence Park, the two sides sat bottom and second-bottom of the Western Conference, averaging just 0.91 points per game.
That, of course, didn’t matter. It never does when it comes to these two.
The game was as close to all-out warfare as it normally is: Experienced referee Allen Chapman let them play — only 18 total fouls could’ve been closer to double that, but it was working. Chapman, who has 247 appearances as a MLS referee, kept the match as in-check as he could. Seattle found its way through, and grabbed its first victory against its rivals since 2021.
“I wouldn’t say [it’s] relief,” Cristian Roldan said. “I’d say it’s just excitement in general. I mean — you beat your rival. You put yourself in a position to ride the momentum that we’ve been needing. And so for us to not only win on the road, but to win…that type of performance of grittiness, of belief, to defend our lead is something that we've been needing so I'm really happy for our team and and just beyond proud of what the group accomplished.”
The Timbers, though, weren’t interested in hanging around. Phil Neville’s men took the direct approach — Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau pumped it long whenever possible, looking for knockdowns off Jonathan Rodriguez.
It worked early on. The Timbers found Rodriguez in behind Jackson Ragen, who’d lost him on the break, and his knockdown found Felipe Mora, who finished with aplomb.
The early goal cut through a quarter-hour of Seattle dominance. Portland bore the brunt of over 60% possession, but didn’t concede a chance. It was as many have been between these two — unexpected and against the run of play.
There was another surprise, though. Seattle managed to do what it hadn't all season, and grabbed the equalizer just four minutes later.
It wasn’t a pretty effort: Cristian Roldan bought a ticket to the lottery from outside the box, and a dubious deflection sent the ball spinning past Crepeau. Roldan jogged off into the afternoon heat, and tucked the ball into his shirt.
“There are times where I think we hesitate to make a final decision,” Roldan said. “I definitely had that [in mind] with my first touch — my intentions were to get a shot off and it wasn't the cleanest but if you don't shoot, you don't score.”
The changes would hold off, even though both sides endured periods of tension. Neville and Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer would wait it out — the former’s chess piece, Evander, was to be held in reserve until absolutely necessary.
There was really no reason to make changes, either. Seattle was confident in its opening salvo, and despite sitting under the cosh in first-half stoppage time, sent out the same men for the second.
It didn’t even take five minutes.
Seattle’s possession paid off once again, as the midfield worked it across the top of the Timbers’ penalty area with little opposition. It slid to Ruidíaz inside the arc, and the Peruvian did what he does best.
Score.
The ball looped over Crepeau in a half-chip, half-finesse effort and nestled in the top left corner. The Timbers Army, incensed a moment ago, let out an exasperated breath.
‘Oh.’
“Raúl’s goal was something else,” Schmetzer said. “I just watched it there [in the locker room]. I mean, it's highlight reel stuff. That's what we expect.”
Neville was forced to insert his delicate talisman soon after, and with Nouhou on a caution after an argument with Juan David Mosquera, the home side’s focus shifted to the Sounders’ left. Evander, though, could only fall to the floor in what Chapman deemed simulation and send his free kick five yards above Stefan Frei’s crossbar.
The possession bar slid closer to even — with 20 minutes to play, the Timbers had recovered a bit of their foothold in the match, but couldn’t make anything of it. At that point, nearly a half-hour of second half play bore only one fruit: Evander’s wayward set piece.
“It felt like it was just going to be one of those where you have to get guys behind the ball and grind a game out, you know, defend your lead,” Roldan said. “And maybe that's something that we haven't done well this year, [but] I don't think they had too many clear chances.”
Neville began to throw the kitchen sink: after Evander, on came Eryk Williamson and Dairon Asprilla. It would be on Seattle to finish the job.
Just like Roldan’s goal — just like the game, and just like this rivalry, it wasn’t pretty. It took every ounce of strength in a team who hadn’t beat their opponents for a thousand (and one) days. There seemed to be a thousand (and one) little opportunities for their rivals to quash their belief. Each withered away. The clock ticked on.
But finally, after 95 minutes, there it was.
Salvation.
All photos courtesy of Mike Fietchner/Sounders FC Communications
Comments