2017/08/27 - Seattle Sounders 1 Portland Timbers 1 - MLS


 

Today I'm going back 4 years to 2017 and my visit to Seattle with Shannon during which I managed to squeeze in a match. It was a local derby no less or "Unrest in the North-West" as it was branded in an attempt to capture the aspect of local "needle" (that should probably read "space needle" in Seattle!). There are only around 183 miles between Seattle and Portland although the two are in separate States (Washington and Oregon) and a pocket of away fans was in evidence at Seattle's CenturyLink Field just to dispel the misperception that there are no away fans at US soccer games. 

I have to say that I keep on being pleasantly surprised by the MLS experience. This game was no exception. High quality football, a proper football stadium, raucous fans. You could do a lot worse than take in an MLS fixture the next time you're in the USA. CenturyLink Field (now known as Lumen Field following CenturyLink's decision to rebrand as Lumen is home to both the Seattle Seahawks American Football team and the Seattle Sounders Soccer team. The stadium is all seater and holds over 68,000 fans although "only" 51,796 were present for this particular game.

Sounders fielded US International and former Fulham and Tottenham striker Clint Dempsey as well as Swiss-born programme cover star Stefan Frei. Seattle took the lead in the 18th minute through a scruffy goal from another US international, Christian Roldan. Right on the stroke of halftime and the Timbers were awarded a penalty which was converted by all-time leading Timbers goal scorer and Argentinian international Diego Valeri. In the second half the Sounders spurned a series of chances to win the game and it ended in a tie (or draw as we like to say) with Seattle reduced to ten men following a late red card.

The Timbers finished top of the eleven team Western Conference of the MLS and Seattle finished second with both teams qualifying for the knockout Semi-Final phase of the MLS season. Seattle went on to win the knockout phase of the Western Conference and eventually made the play-off for the overall MLS Cup against Eastern Conference winners Toronto FC. Toronto won the Final 2-0 to become the 2017 MLS Champions.

CRB Match No. 2168


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