LUMEN FIELD - The sun was out in the Emerald City for Cascadia’s premier soccer event of the year: a doubleheader clash between the region’s powerhouse sides. However, the first of two events provided naught but a few half-chances between the two teams as the match ended scoreless in a fair but disappointing result. Neither side got going through the 90 minutes as Seattle denied their rivals another win at Lumen Field, where the home side hasn’t won in the regular season since 2017, but couldn’t complete the turnaround as they finished out a three-game match week with four of a possible nine points.
A Sounders side missing Alex Roldan and Jordan Morris managed an XI featuring that would leave Raúl Ruidíaz on the bench, still seeking his first start since losing in Portland in April. Héber, also dropped to the bench after a string of starts, will have to compete with the Peruvian Designated Player for the starting slot as he returns to fitness. Fredy Montero was the preferred choice upfront from the outset; Head Coach Brian Schmetzer explained, “I thought that maybe we could get a little bit of magic out of Fredy - he’s been in enough Cascadia rivalry matches - that was the decision to start him instead of Héber”.
Reed Baker-Whiting started the match at right midfield, putting on hold the idea that he may be the depth at fullback that’s been lacking since Roldan assumed the starting role; Schmetzer told media after the loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in midweek that he “...wouldn’t say that he’s going to be the starting right back for our club now, but he certainly is going to put pressure on Alex (Roldan)”.
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Instead, Cody Baker returned from concussion protocol to make his first derby appearance at right back - the position that he featured in with the Tacoma Defiance. Baker has been chiefly utilized at left back in place of an injured Nouhou and Kelyn Rowe, but the Cameroonian’s availability on Saturday meant that the Sounders Academy product could assume his preferred position on the right of the back four.
Schmetzer described his expectations for the two as less than what he’d anticipate from Seattle’s usual starters on that side (the Roldan brothers), but he reflected positively on their performance, saying, “I think they worked hard…Cody in the second half showed that he can gut it out, still get up and down the line, but they’re not finished products yet.”
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A subdued first half - the combined expected goals at the break came in at 0.18 (FotMob) - saw the Sounders outshot 6-2 without a shot on target. Léo Chú was once again the primary outlet, but a stoic Eric Miller rarely ventured into the opposition half, leaving few opportunities for the Brazilian to dash in behind the Timbers defense.
When he did, twice in quick succession midway through the half, he won a corner and a penalty shout, two of Seattle’s most dangerous moments. Schmetzer related his halftime conversation with Chú to the media, saying, “Léo was dangerous maybe once or twice in the first half, and so at halftime I challenged him…I said ‘Let’s get behind at least six times’”.
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The right-sided pairing of Baker and Baker-Whiting was the source of Portland’s pressing trigger; Dairon Asprilla and co. would step whenever one of the teenagers turned the ball backward, a chance that would worry Stefan Frei more than once as the ball was spun around the back with Timbers attackers advancing.
The second half saw Cristian Roldan and Ruidíaz introduced in the 56th minute after ten minutes that mirrored the 45 before the break. The two succeeded in breathing life into a struggling side, with several half-chances coming after the dual substitution.
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Roldan reflected on what the substitutes had the ability to introduce to the match in the locker room - he said, “Being a leader…It’s important to be that present even when you’re not on the field. When you get on the field, bringing that bit of energy, that bit of confidence, that bit of aggressiveness…to provide that spark was my main goal.”
However, that wasn’t enough to push either attack into high gear, with Seattle continuing to rotate possession and the Timbers restricted to the occasional hoofed foray forwards. Roldan acknowledged the fault, saying, “...unfortunately we didn’t have the quality in front of goal”, but intimated that the side was happy with the opportunities that they generated in attacking zones.
The “moment” that we so often talk about just wasn’t there for either side; despite an obvious boost in the wake of the Sounders’ initial wave of substitutions Seattle ended the match with just 0.34 xG, a tally that illustrates the lack of danger that they created. It’s been an issue for Seattle of late; Schmetzer mentioned, “We will continue to try and fine-tune our attacking movements and see if we can’t start scoring some goals.”
Seattle will look to take what momentum they can from the match into a stretch of games that powers the middle third of the season; seven matches before the Leagues Cup showcase include Concacaf Champions League finalists LAFC and Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps. The upcoming international break, falling in between next Saturday’s match in Charlotte and the titanic LAFC clash, will interrupt that trend - next weekend will decide whether it’s for better or for worse. That match will stream on MLS Season Pass, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM Pacific time.
Feature photo by Aimee Arnold-Worthington / Area Sports Network
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