Sounders miss opportunity in Portland with 1-0 rivalry game loss

Opportunity.

It’s what awaited the Sounders in Portland after a nightmarish two weeks at home. It’s what they squandered, time after time, as the ball flashed back and forth across the penalty area. It’s what they’ve lost, after a third-straight defeat.

Juan Mosqera’s deflected effort from outside the box was the difference as the Sounders lost out to the Timbers on Saturday night — but it was the chances missed that lost the game for Seattle.

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer reorganized the starting lineup after Seattle’s Leagues Cup exit. He inserted Pedro de la Vega on the right side, pushing Cristian Roldan into midfield and dropping João Paulo to the bench. Josh Atencio was also preferred to Obed Vargas in midfield.

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A scary moment opened the match, though. With Timbers forward Antony flicked through on goal, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei closed down his teammate Mason Toye. Toye followed through on a deflected shot, but drove his knee through Frei’s head. The 38-year-old netminder left the field after spending multiple minutes down on the turf, with Andrew Thomas substituted in his place.

Schmetzer told media afterwards that Frei had ten stitches and entered concussion protocol. He also made clear that he did not believe Toye’s tackle to be malicious.

Neither side generated a gilt-edged chance in the first half — none of Seattle’s four shots were worth more than 0.10 xG, and Portland’s best opportunity remained the Toye collision. Sounders forward Jordan Morris took just one shot in the first half, with the attacker registering only eight touches.

“I wish that we would’ve done a little bit better job of putting them under more pressure early in the first half,” Schmetzer said. “You know — Paul Rothrock is down the left side. Are we ready? Do we believe he’s going to get in behind?”

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The game would be defined by yet another disappointing goal. In the 55th minute, Timbers right back Juan Mosquera drove forward, and as Nouhou stepped late to close him down the Colombian struck towards goal.

Nouhou’s toe was just enough to push the ball into Seattle’s top right-hand corner. Thomas could only watch as it dipped late.

“It was agonizing,” Thomas said. “I’m pretty pissed off. It’s one of those where it’s an inch lower and I get a hand on it.”

Schmetzer inserted DP forward Raúl Ruidíaz and recent signing Georgi Minoungou immediately after the goal.

The statistics that followed are not pretty.

Of the 10 second-half shots that the Sounders took, only one was on target. They generated just 0.03 expected goals from open play.

Minoungou drew praise from Schmetzer after the match. The winger made seven dribbles and completed four in his near-half on the pitch — both game-highs.

“He’s dynamic,” Schmetzer said. “He can get around guys…but the thing that I loved was some of the effort plays. Balls were being tangled up, it’s a derby match, and he’s fighting. I love the effort that the kid put into the game.”

There’s not much to say. This was a match that Seattle saw as an instant bounce-back opportunity after it was knocked out of both of the available cup competitions in consecutive games.

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Instead, they fall further away from a home playoff match. They fall further out of form, and lie as adrift as ever from the dynamic, counterattacking side that bent teams into submission.

“How do you get back up?” Schmetzer asked at the end of his press conference. “We’ve got seven games left, and that’s life. There’s still everything to play for.”

Feature photo by Connor Pickett / Sounders FC Communications