Sounders win 2-1 at Portland
Friday, July 21, 2006
PORTLAND, OR -- The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers met for the third time this season at PGE Park in Portland, Ore. With the temperature in the mid to upper 90s at kickoff, the heat played a role in the Sounders 2-1 victory as both teams struggled to get things going early.
 A solid finish by Sounder Defender Jake Besagno in the second half gave the Sounders the lead. Only a minute later the Forward Cam Weaver delivered the clincher as the Sounders stole a 2-1 win over rival Portland.
The Portland Timbers had the run of play in the matches opening 15 minutes. The Timbers took their first shot of the match in the first minute, and Sounder goalkeeper Chris Eylander recorded his first save of the match shortly after on a break-a-way attempt.
The Sounders had a goal waived off in the 13th minute of the match due to an offside call. Midfielder Jordan Harvey headed the ball to the far post inside the six yard box where Forward Roger Levesque was streaking in. Harvey was called offside on the play.
Yellow cards in back to back minutes issued to the Timbers set up a free kick for the Sounders 26 yards out on the left side of the box. Midfielder Andrew Gregor's ball into the box was knocked over the crossbar by Defender Jake Besagno.
The Sounders controlled possession late in the first half due to the play by the midfielders and defenders moving the ball up field and playing tough defense in the back. The Sounders held the Timbers to five shots, Eylander recorded three saves.
The second half began much like the first half ended with both teams battling for possession at midfield. In the 48th minute nearly the entire set of lights at PGE Park went dark minus three sets along the east side of the stadium. After a 10 minute delay, the stadium was able to re-start the lights except for the set in the southwest corner of the stadium, the Sounders offensive end, but the teams decided to restart the match in the 58th minute.
Sounder Forward Cam Weaver had an opportunity to give the Sounders a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute from a Gregor free kick 30 yards out. Gregor sent the ball far post across the box where Weaver was there for the header, but his shot went straight into Timber goalkeeper Josh Saunders' chest.
Exchanging shots in the final minutes of regulation, the Timbers had several scoring opportunities as the ball bounced off of several players through the box.
In the 86th minute, Besagno put the Sounders on the board with a solid finish off of a Gregor free kick from 30 yards out. Gregor sent the ball into the box where Besagno standing in the center of the box. Collecting the ball, turning on it and rifling it in was Besagno for his first goal of the season giving the Sounders a 1-0 lead. Gregor was awarded the assist on the play.
Only a minute later the Sounders leading goal scorer, Weaver notched the clincher on a well placed ball from second half sub Maykel Galindo streaking down the left side of the box. Weaver was shadowing far post, Galindo hit him in stride allowing Weaver to finish under a diving Saunders.
Eylander preserved the shutout in stoppage time as Portland knocked the ball around the box allowing Defender Scot Thompson to get a head on the ball. Eylander quickly reacted and pulled the loose ball in. Eylander and the Sounder defense would record a handful of key saves in the stoppage time to hold onto the 2-1 win.
Late in stoppage time a foul on Sounder Danny Jackson set up a Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar goal on a free kick 23 yards out. With a solid right footed strike the Timbers cut the Sounders lead in half.
The win is the Sounders first regular season victory in Portland since August of 2004, and marks the first victory over the Timbers this season. The two teams square off once again tomorrow night in the back end of a home and home series in Seattle. The match kicks off at Qwest Field at 7pm.
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