Seattle Sounders FC Supporters (Chris Coulter Photo)

They come with flags and drums, voices and pride. They are the 500 from Seattle and they are on enemy turf. Sleepless nights, riddled with nerves and anticipation, have finally yielded to the most intriguing 90 minutes of the season: Portland Away.

The hopes and dreams of two rabid fan bases, and the signature match of an entire league, culminate on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It’s Portland. It’s Seattle. And for this supporter, it is high theater.

For over an hour before kickoff these people of Cascadia cry out for the match to commence. It’s a scene that only seems possible in some distant land where football toes the line between sport and religion. Yet here we are, a people divided by tribal allegiances but united by a passion for active support. Fittingly, Cascadia flags wave in both ends.

The teams march out to a cacophony of noise, color and movement. Portland are in their home strip. Seattle sports a color they know to be purely cringe-inducing to their rival. Kickoff, finally, and chaos all around. The Sounders attack to the fabled North End where supporters spew forth pure bile in an attempt the keep the ball out of the net.

On 38 minutes Alonso punts a purposeful ball forward to Friberg at the top of the box. With Portland’s defense asleep, the Swede turns and lays a beautiful ball through to Fernandez. But Troy Perkins is not asleep, perhaps jarred awake after a free kick to his near post by Fredy Montero in the sixth minute. Perkins charges, the Uruguayan loses his concentration at the crucial moment, and the Timbers Army erupts just as loudly as they sigh in relief.

The halftime whistle blows seemingly far too soon, but the chance for a breather is welcomed by some. Flags continue to wave. Concessions and restrooms are flooded, but if you aren’t back in your seat by the beginning of the second half, you’re missing the show.

The TA seem to suck their players toward the opposing goal. It takes less than a minute to achieve the desired effect. Tyson Wahl is badly beaten. Confusion at the back for the Sounders. Goal. Epic eruption.

The Timbers storm forward again in the 53rd, smelling blood. It’s a chance to put the match nearly out of reach. Perlaza is one touch from demoralizing the 11 in Electricity and the 500 in the southwest corner. Three minutes later the Sounders make a push. They are down, were nearly out, and they need a hero.

Montero earns a free kick and the 500 are positioned perfectly to enjoy the profile of a statuesque Columbian standing confidently behind the ball. Does he dare tempt the near post again? He does, and it’s in! Glorious, glorious Fredy Montero! Resplendent Fredy Montero! It’s the stuff of legend. A hemispheric strike that will be heralded from the Puget Sound to his homeland. The celebration rings around the stadium. That’s right, almost everywhere you look there are pockets of Rave Green and Electricity simply losing their minds. The sight is enough to enrage even the most mild-mannered Portlander.

We’re level, but we’re just getting started. It’s not Tyson Wahl’s day out on the left. The man who has become practically a household name through his pinpoint ball placement and serviceable defense, yields on a deflection in the 69th. We still love him, just as we still loved Fredy after the LA debacle.Tyson will have better days. All around it’s a maddening type of bedlam. What just happened? How did it happen? Why do I suddenly hate my life? Portland explodes. The ground is shaking. I’m about to be sick.

74th minute. Fitting, yes? Riley-Neagle-Rosales-Montero. Sing it out loud. Scream it out your front door. It has a nice ring, I think. Replay confirms what I knew at the time; these 500 can be heard ‘round the world. Montero does the goal hop. He was clipped after the shot and it must have stung a little, but I fully expect every kid who scores a goal in the Puget Sound to now celebrate by hopping around on one leg.

Now, in the 81st, this man Neagle, a local boy growing up before our eyes on a worldly stage. It’s Alonso again with the ball forward. The true Sounder breaks, a Portland hero faults. The mixture of cheers and boos is deafening. Brunner sees red. He seemingly gives away the three points he worked so hard to earn when he beat his former club less than two months prior. Those memories must seem so long ago for Timbers fans who must have thought they had cracked the expansion code.

The ball is on the spot. A favorite of the supporters takes center stage. The 500 try and quiet themselves. But there is something about our #6 that makes you want to loudly verbalize the joy you feel inside. The noise builds on his approach. It simply cannot be suppressed. Our hero won’t miss. He won’t. He doesn’t. Ecstasy.

The rest is a dreamy blur. The 500 screamed out chants with utter disregard for the health of vocal cords. Flags waved as arm muscles burned. Stoppage time seemed like forever. The team came over to celebrate with the fans. Supporters exchanged tired smiles and hugs. We did it.

Three points in the standings. Memories for a lifetime.

Here’s the report from the club…
Fredy Montero scored two second-half goals and Osvaldo Alonso tacked on the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute as Seattle Sounders FC earned a 3-2 comeback victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday afternoon in front of a national television audience and 18,627 fans at JELD-WEN Field in the Rose City.

Sounders FC (9-4-8, 35 points) extends their club-record unbeaten streak to eight straight matches (5-0-3) and improve their record to 4-2-5 away from CenturyLink Field this season, as they surpass FC Dallas and move into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference standings.

The Timbers (5-9-3, 16 points) are still searching for their first win since May 21, falling to 0-6-1 since that time.

Alonso’s game-winning penalty kick came after Seattle’s Lamar Neagle was taken down in the box by Portland’s Eric Brunner. Brunner was issued a red card on the play. Alonso put away the ensuing penalty kick low and to his right, past Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins, giving Sounders FC their first lead of the day, 3-2.

The Timbers held a 1-0 and 2-1 advantage in the second half, but Montero’s second-half heroics kept Sounders FC in contention.

The first of Montero’s equalizers came in the 57th minute when he cracked a free kick over the wall of Portland defenders and into the corner of the net from 27 yards out for his fourth goal of the season.

Then, in the 74th minute after the Timbers had taken a 2-1 lead, Neagle collected the ball on the left side of the box and crossed it to Mauro Rosales on the right side of the box. Rosales volleyed the ball back to Montero who was alone in front of the net and Montero knocked it home for his second goal of the match and fifth of the season, equalizing the score once again, 2-2.

Montero’s five goals are a club-high. Rosales leads the team with five assists.

Portland’s first goal came in the opening minute of the second half when Kalif Alhassan took the ball up the right side and sent a cross into the box toward Jorge Perlaza. The ball found the feet of Seattle defender Jeff Parke at the near post, who was marking Perlaza on the play. Parke redirected the cross through the legs of Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller for an own goal that put the Timbers up 1-0.

It was the first road goal allowed by Sounders FC in their last 319 minutes of play.

Portland regained a 2-1 advantage in the 70th minute, when Perlaza got out on a run up the left side and sent a cross into the box that was deflected by Seattle defender Tyson Wahl and into the back of the net.

At halftime, Seattle’s Keller and Portland’s Jack Jewsbury were named to the MLS All-Star First XI. The 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game takes place on July 27 at Red Bull Arena.

Sunday afternoon’s match marked the third of four Cascadia Cup fixtures for Sounders FC and the second of four for the Portland Timbers, in a competition that also includes Vancouver Whitecaps FC and is organized by the clubs’ supporter groups. Sounders FC improves to 1-0-2 and Portland falls to 0-1-1.

Sounders FC face the reigning MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids on July 16 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. First kick is slated for 1 p.m. PT.

Seattle Sounders FC at Portland Timbers
July 10, 2011 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.

Goals by Period
1
2
Tot
Portland Timbers
0
2
2
Seattle Sounders FC
0
3
3

Scoring Summary:
POR – Jeff Parke (own goal) 46
SEA – Fredy Montero (unassisted) 57
POR – Jorge Perlaza (Chara) 69
SEA – Fredy Montero (Rosales) 74
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (unassisted) 83

Portland Timbers – Troy Perkins, Steve Purdy, Eric Brunner, Mamadou Danso, Rodney Wallace, James Marcelin, Diego Chara, Jack Jewsbury, Darlington Nagbe (Sal Zizzo 64), Kalif Alhassan, Jorge Perlaza (Kenny Cooper 75)

Substitutes Not Used: Adin Brown, Kevin Goldthwaite, Jeremy Hall, Adam Moffat, Eddie Johnson

TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4.

Seattle Sounders FC – Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Patrick Ianni 56), Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Alvaro Fernandez (Lamar Neagle 66), Mauro Rosales, Fredy Montero (Pat Noonan 89), Roger Levesque
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Zach Scott, Servando Carrasco, Nate Jaqua

TOTAL SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2.

Misconduct Summary:
POR – James Marcelin (caution, Reckless Foul) 56
SEA – Fredy Montero (caution, Excessive Celebration) 58
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (caution, Reckless Foul) 63
SEA – Mauro Rosales (caution, Dissent) 78
POR – Eric Brunner (Red Card, Reckless Foul) 81

Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee’s Assistants: Gregory Barkey, James Conlee
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 18,627
Weather: Sunny and 70 degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial

Ozzie Alonso against the Timbers in Round 1 (Chris Coulter Photo)

The Pre Game release by Sounders FC

North America’s most spirited soccer rivalry meets the light of midday on Sunday afternoon when Seattle Sounders FC invade the ground of the Portland Timbers for the third Cascadia Cup fixture of 2011. First kick is 1 p.m. PT and ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the match nationally from JELD-WEN Field.

Sounders FC will turn around and play a quarterfinal Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game three days later. They host the L.A. Galaxy at Starfire Sports Stadium on July 13 at 7 p.m. PT.

The Rave Green are on the verge of an 11-day test of stamina an depth. Four matches will be played over the stretch that begins in the Rose City and concludes with the Manchester United friendly on July 20.

Seattle (8-4-8, 32 points) rides south with a club record seven-match unbeaten streak (4-0-3) in MLS, eight games in all competitions and five games undefeated on the road following the scoreless draw against the Galaxy on July 4. The total of 32 points is third in the league.

Sounders FC are 3-2-5 away this season and have fared well in matinees, going 2-0-1. Their record through 20 matches is the best in the club’s three-year existence.

Portland (5-8-3, 18 points) is searching for its first win since May 21. Since then the Timbers have gone 0-5-1, including a 2-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City last week. Since winning their first five matches at JELD-WEN Field they have lost three and drawn one. Portland hosts Mexico’s Club America in a friendly on Thursday night.

In the first meeting between Seattle and Portland on May 14, Alvaro Fernandez staked the home side to a 52nd minute lead and Mamadou Danso answered in the 65th, heading home a free kick.

In Open Cup play Seattle has been next to perfect, with a mark of 10-0-1 in tournament-related games. A 2-1 win over Kitsap Pumas punched the ticket to the quarterfinal round.

This is the second year in a row that the Galaxy have come to Starfire for a quarterfinal. L.A. came from behind to beat the PDL Los Angeles Blues, 2-1, last week.

The Sounders FC-Galaxy winner moves on to the semifinal round, which begins August 30. They will be pitted against the FC Dallas-Real Salt Lake victor.

Arlo White will be on the call for Sunday’s radio broadcast on 97.3 KIRO FM.

Servando Carrasco put the Sounders up in the 77th minute off of a free kick from about 30 yards out. David Estrada came on for Fredy Montero in the 65th and scored the Sounders’ 2nd goal in the 89th.

The win puts the Reserves’ record at 4-0-0. The Reserve squad next plays the Whitecaps on Tuesday, June 6th at Starfire Sports.

Portland Timbers Reserves (1-2-0, 3pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC Reserves (4-0-0, 12pts)
May 30, 2011 – JELD-WEN Field, Portland, Ore.
MLS Reserve League

Scoring Summary
SEA: Carrasco, 77
SEA: Estrade (Gonzalez), 89

Misconduct Summary
POR: Braun (reckless foul), 76

Lineups
POR: GK-Adin Brown; D-Freddie Braun, D-Ross Smith, D-David Horst ©, D-Chris Taylor; M-Ryan Pore (Spencer Thompson, 68), M-James Marcelin, M-Adam Moffat (Bim Ogunyemi, 85), M-Rodrigo Lopez; F-Eddie Johnson, F-Brian Umony

Substitutes Not Used: D-Jesus Gonzalez

SEA: GK-Terry Boss; D-Roger Levesque, D-Zach Scott, D-Taylor Graham ©, D-Leo Gonzalez; M-Miguel Montaño (Sean Okoli, 78), M-Servando Carrasco, M-Michael Seamon, M-Michael Tetteh; F-Pat Noonan (Aaron Kovar, 81), F-Fredy Montero (David Estrada, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK-Bryan Meredith, F-, F-DeAndre Yedlin

Referee: Ronald Lagraff
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Cesar Tercero
4^th Official: Farhad Dadko  
Attendance: 3,393
Weather: Cloudy, 62 degrees

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All images © thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com

The Sounders got goals from Lamar Neagle, Pat Noonan, and Michael Tetteh at Starfire.

Seattle’s Reserves have now won all three games they have played. The next Reserve Match is set for May 30th at Portland.

Official Release

Lamar Neagle scored and assisted and Pat Noonan and Michael Tetteh tallied goals as Seattle Sounders FC defeated the Portland Timbers, 3-2, in a MLS Reserve League match on Sunday afternoon at Starfire Sports Stadium.

Sounders FC (3-0-0) remain undefeated in Reserve League play while Portland (1-1-0) lost for the first time.

Neagle staked Seattle to a lead with a strike in the 44th minute. He played a ball into box from the right side that bounced through a crowd and spun inside the far post.

Neagle started the second scoring sequence as well. In the 57th minute he swung a cross into the box that Noonan headed past Timbers keeper Adin Brown from close range.

Rookie Michael Tetteh extended the lead in the 74th minute. Tetteh worked a give-and-go with second-half substitute Roger Levesque and slotted a left-footed shot past Brown from 12 yards.

David Horst pulled Portland a goal back in the 68th minute. Bim Ogunyemi headed a free kick from Rodrigo Lopez that Terry Boss stopped. Horst was able to knock in the rebound from the ground.

Portland scored a late goal in second-half stoppage time when a ball fell to Ogunyemi at the top of the box and he blasted it just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

David Estrada tested Portland early when he pounded a shot from 20 yards in the 9th minute that Brown blocked.

Tetteh had another scoring opportunity in the 11th minute when he weaved through the center of the field but his attempt from 16 yards missed just wide right.

Neagle and Noonan nearly combined in the first half when Neagle swung a cross into the box from the right wing that Noonan fired just wide from 12 yards out.

Neagle and Tetteh co-lead Sounders FC in MLS Reserve League scoring with two goals. Neagle drew and converted a penalty in last week’s win over Chivas USA and Tetteh scored the winner at San Jose.

The sides were even on shots with 10. Terry Boss made five saves and Brown made four.

Seattle will face Timbers in its next MLS Reserve League match at JELD-WEN Field in Portland on May 30 at 2 p.m. PT.

Portland Timbers (1-1-0) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (3-0-0)
May 15, 2011 – Starfire Sports Stadium, Tukwila, Wash.
Reserve League

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – 2 Portland Timbers

Scoring Summary:
SEA – Lamar Neagle (unassisted) 44
SEA – Pat Noonan (Lamar Neagle) 57
POR – David Horst (unassisted) 68
SEA – Michael Tetteh (Roger Levesque) 74
POR — Bim Ogunyemi (unassisted) 90+

Portland Timbers: 24-Adin Brown; 27-Chris Taylor, 34-Sean Morris, 12-David Horst, 25-Steve Purdy; 19-Rodrigo Lopez, 14-James Marcelin, 16-Adam Moffat (35-Bim Ogunyemi 67), 7-Sal Zizzo (31-Spencer Thompson 46); 8-Peter Lowry, 23-Ryan Pore (36-Nosa Iyoha 82)

Substitutes Not Used: 20-Jake Gleeson, 2-Kevin Goldthwaite

Seattle Sounders FC: 28-Terry Boss; 20-Zach Scott (39-Kevin Sakuda 52), 26-Taylor Graham, 31-Jeff Parke, 12-Leo Gonzalez; 27-Lamar Neagle, 22-Michael Seamon, 16-David Estrada, 14-Michael Tetteh; 2-Mike Fucito (24-Roger Levesque 73), 25-Pat Noonan (32-Miguel Montano 63)

Substitutes Not Used: 29-Josh Ford, 36-Daniel Gray, 37-Cameron Hepple, 35-Sinisa Ubiparipovic,

Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Michael Tetteh (unsporting behavior) 14
SEA – Miguel Montano (delaying restart) 90

Referee: Tyler Ploeger
Referee’s Assistants: Baboucarr Jallow and Erik Martes
4th Official: Josh Wilkins
Attendance: 670
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Rain and 51 degrees

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All images © thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com

© Chris Coulter Photo

A goal by Alvaro Fernandez in the 52nd minute wasn’t enough to give Sounders FC 3 points in the first match of the 2011 Cascadia Cup.

In the 65th minute Portland equalized the match at 1 off of a set piece.

With the draw, Seattle moves to 3-3-5 on the year (14pts).

Full Release…
Alvaro Fernandez’s goal early in the second half was enough to earn the Seattle Sounders FC a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers in the initial meeting between the two MLS clubs in a match played in heavy rain in front of a record 36,593 fans and a national television audience Saturday night on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

Sounders FC (3-3-5, 14 points) has lost only once in its last nine matches. The Portland Timbers (4-3-2, 14 points) remain winless on the road, going 0-3-2 away from JELD-WEN Field.

The crowd set a record for a Sounders FC home MLS regular season or playoff match.

Fernandez’s goal came in the 52nd minute when Roger Levesque sent a ball into the box where Fredy Montero was able to win a header and flick it through to an unmarked Fernandez on the left side. Fernandez took a touch off of his chest and pounded a left-footed shot for 12 yards past Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins, giving Seattle the 1-0 lead.

The goal was Fernandez’s third of the season, good for second-most on the club (Brad Evans 4). Montero recorded his third assist of the season, while Levesque recorded his first.

Montero is now tied for the team-lead in assists with Mauro Rosales.

The Timbers’ equalizer came in the 65th minute off a set piece when midfielder Jack Jewsbury sent a free kick into the box that found the head of a leaping Mamadou Danso who put the ball past Kasey Keller for his second goal in as many games. The assist was Jewsbury’s fourth of the season.

Three minutes into the match Montero ripped a shot from distance, but Perkins was able to corral the ball just outside the frame.

In the 18th minute, Portland’s Kenny Cooper sailed a left-footed shot from distance, but a leaping Keller made the save.

Seattle had an opportunity just before the end of the first half after Montero was brought down with a hard foul 27 yards out. Montero bent the free kick around the wall of Portland defenders, but his shot went just wide of the right post.

In the 56th minute, Montero blasted a right-footed shot from the top of the box that hit Perkins square in the hands.

Sounders FC held a slight advantage in total shots, amassing 11 to the Timbers’ nine. Portland held the advantage in shots on goal, recording five to Seattle’s two.

Seattle’s Keller recorded four saves.

Brad Evans returned to the starting lineup after missing the last match with a quad injury, but left the contest early after suffering a right groin strain. Levesque substituted for Evans in the 42nd minute.

Sounders FC’s Servando Carrasco got the start at midfield in place of Erik Friberg, who left Friday’s practice early with a left ankle sprain. Friberg had appeared in each of Seattle’s previous 10 contests, starting nine of them. Seattle was also without Steve Zakuani, O’Brian White and Mauro Roslaes, all due to injuries.

Saturday night’s match was the first of four Cascadia Cup fixtures for both teams, a competition that is organized by the clubs’ supporters and also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Sounders FC, in the midst of a three-match home stand, will next host Sporting Kansas City on May 21 at 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Defending Western Conference champion FC Dallas visits on May 25.

Portland Timbers (4-3-2) vs. Seattle Sounders (3-3-5)
May 14, 2011 — Qwest Field

Scoring Summary:
SEA — Alvaro Fernandez 3 (Fredy Montero 3, Roger Levesque 1) 52
POR — Mamadou Danso 2 (Jack Jewsbury 4) 65

Portland Timbers – Troy Perkins, Jeremy Hall, Eric Brunner, Mamadou Danso, Rodney Wallace, Darlington Nagbe (Sal Zizzo 61), Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara, Kalif Alhassan, Kenny Cooper, Jorge Perlaza (Ryan Pore 84).

Substitutes Not Used: David Horst, James Marcelin, Adam Moffat, Steve Purdy, Jake Gleeson.

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Mamadou Danso 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Kenny Cooper 2, Mamadou Danso 2); FOULS: 9 (Jack Jewsbury 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Kenny Cooper 1); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Jack Jewsbury 2); SAVES: 1 (Troy Perkins 1)

Seattle Sounders — Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyson Wahl, Brad Evans (Roger Levesque 42), Osvaldo Alonso, Servando Carrasco, Alvaro Fernandez, Fredy Montero, Nate Jaqua (Lamar Neagle 79).

Substitutes Not Used: Mike Fucito, Leo Gonzalez, Jeff Parke, Zach Scott, Terry Boss.

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Fredy Montero 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Alvaro Fernandez 1, Fredy Montero 1); FOULS: 10 (Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Roger Levesque 1); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Tyson Wahl 4); SAVES: 4 (Kasey Keller 4)

Misconduct Summary:

Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee’s Assistants:-Fabio Tovar; Corey Rockwell
4th Official: Tyler Ploeger
Attendance: 36,593
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Rain-and-55-degrees

All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers – Postgame Quotes

Sigi Schmid – Sounders FC Head Coach
(General Comments…) “Not pleased from the standpoint that we had the lead and we gave them a goal back. Their game is predicated around free kicks and set pieces. That’s what their danger is. That’s what they live for. The referee gave them quite a few. It seemed like our fouls happened for us on our (defensive) end of the field and theirs happened on their (offensive) end of the field. At the end of the day, we have to defend those things and we have to take care of that business. Losing a player like Evans changes it and losing (Erik) Friberg as we prepare for the game certainly changes things as well for us. You add it up and you have Friberg, (Brad) Evans, O’Brian White, (Mauro) Rosales, (Steve) Zakuani, that’s a lot of pieces to be missing where they’re not really missing any pieces.

“I thought we scored a good goal and at the beginning of the second half we got ahold of the game based on what we talked about; settling the game down a little bit. It’s hard in this weather and I think the weather suited them a little bit more in the sense that they go direct and try to knock it up to their big men and they were a bit better at that than we were. At the start of the second half we did a decent job. That’s the reason I thought we got the goal and we were around it a couple of times, but we need to finish it off.”

(On game atmosphere…) “The atmosphere was great. You had their fans, which is something you normally don’t have, a loud group from the opposing team, so that added to the pageantry of the game. But at the end of the day, we’re at home and we need to get three points at home.”

(On injuries…) “Friberg has a sprained ankle. We’ll have to see. It’s sort of a day-to-day thing. Evans pulled a groin muscle, so we’ll have to see how that comes along.”

(On goal…) “Roger Levesque hit the ball across and into the middle, and Fredy did a good job flicking it on with the header and Alvaro’s first touch was very good and he finished it, so it was a good goal.”

(On first half…) “It was hit and miss, a patchy game. For us, the big problem in the first half was having (Servando) Carrasco and (Osvaldo) Alonso in midfield together. They both sat back too deep, so it was very tough for our forward s to have a connection for someone to play back to. That’s what we talked about at halftime, that one of the two of them needed to push up more. That was something we talked about before the game, but in the heat of the game they forgot it. And our outside guys needed to pinch in a little bit so we get guys underneath our forwards. It was pretty helter-skelter in the first half.”

(On Carrasco…) “He’s a rookie and he’s going to make some good things and he’s going to make some things that maybe aren’t as good. Overall, he’s a good player and has a good future. Sometimes him and Alonso, the pairing of the two of them is maybe not the best pairing because they both like to look for the ball in the same spaces. You’re trying to get one to play off the other one a little more. That’s something that we talked about before the game and talked about again at halftime. It got better for periods of time, but it wasn’t as good as it needed to be. If they have more time together, playing together, that will get better.”

(On physicality of play…) “I don’t know if it’s a rivalry on the pitch that make it physical. I think it was physical because that’s the nature of their game. You don’t see their goalkeeper throw the ball out and they’re not going to build. Everything is either a punt or a goal kick. As a result, the ball’s in the air, and they run guys outside in. Maybe I saw wrong, but you have guys on their team sometimes jumping and not even seeing where the ball is, just jumping in the air against our guys. So that was the physical side of the game tonight. It was a lot of contesting balls in the air. It’s a lot of headers, it’s a lot of knockdowns, it’s a lot of second balls. I don’t think that was because of the rivalry, it was because of the way they play.”

(On Danso’s defensive headers…) “You should win a lot of headers if you’re going against Montero. If the ball’s up in the air, he’s a good player. If we could have gotten the ball on the ground more and taken him that way, then we would have forced him to defend a little bit more. Overall, he did what he needed to do today. At a crucial moment, we won a header and flicked a ball ahead in the box against Brunner who is probably better in the air than Danso, so those guys are obviously difficult guys in the air.”

Nate Jaqua – Sounders FC Forward
(On the match and if it felt like a rivalry) “Yeah, there was definitely a little bit more to it. I think everybody was kind of flying around a little bit more. I think they did a good job the first half of letting us not get into a good rhythm. In the second half I thought we started playing well. We got the goal. We were kind of getting after them and had a couple of pretty good chances to put it away. We weren’t able to do that and they were able to get a little bit of momentum. They’re dangerous on free kicks.”

Kasey Keller – Sounders FC Goalkeeper
(On the match) “Yeah, it’s a little disappointing. The first half was pretty even. They had some shots, we had some shots. I agree with what Nate (Jaqua) said; I thought the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half we came out and played some good stuff. Got the reward, got the goal. Then we just kind of messed it up a little bit, which is frustrating. We know they’re a dangerous team on set pieces. We talked about it all week. They started winning a few more set pieces in dangerous positions and Jewsbury hits a great ball in and they have some big bodies in there. We’re a little frustrated because we all thought we dropped our line a little bit too quick and let them get on top of us. You get a big kid like Danso in there, he’s going to win stuff. Unfortunately he kind of just beat me to the ball. I couldn’t get there quite quick enough, which was frustrating.”

(On if the draw is more frustrating because of the rivalry factor) “It’s a combo. Of course we would have loved 500 fans to drive home disappointed and wet and frustrated. We would love for our fans to be celebrating tonight. You get the 1-0 lead, and can we fight like hell to keep that? Unfortunately they are very dangerous on set pieces. They’ve scored over 70 percent of their goals on set pieces and there’s a reason for that.”

Roger Levesque – Sounders FC Midfielder/Forward
(On the match) “Having that one goal lead and the excitement that created…keep the pressure on after we scored the goal. We had a few chances to put it out of reach – didn’t do that. We know they’re strong on set pieces. A lucky bounce or whatever it was; a good goal by their center back. The atmosphere was great. The fans were great. There’s no question about that. It was electric. The best atmosphere that I think we’ve had. That’s definitely something to feed off of. Now I’m just looking forward to going down there and playing at their place.”

(On the supporter’s group pre-game display) “I’m definitely honored to be in that group of players who was honored. I thought there were a lot of good players up there. It was pretty amazing to be a part of that.”

Alvaro Fernandez – Sounders FC Midfielder (via translator)
(On the goal) “When I saw the play shaping up I started yelling and calling the play, especially when I saw the two defenders going after Fredy (Montero). After the flick I was one on one with the keeper and I was able to finalize.”

(On if it felt any different going up against a rival in Portland) “It was a derby. I’m lucky that I’ve had the chance to play many of those in my career. They are sort of similar. Sometimes the teams don’t start playing very well, but it’s not only about that, it’s also about the will and how much you really want it and how much effort you put in it. Thankfully we started ahead, but unfortunately we wound up giving up the lead.”

John Spencer – Portland Timbers Head Coach
(On Sounders FC pressing to start the second half…) “Obviously they are going to start and go after it. We were ready for it to start the first half but got complacent. I gave them a good positive team talk at halftime. I told them how happy I was with them and the effort they were giving. The good thing we regrouped being a goal down. I felt they were terrified with us during every set piece. They were worried about giving up a goal.”

(On his impressions of the Timbers’ goal…) “Jack Jewsbury has been fantastic for us, that is why we brought him here and made him captain. He has lived up to everything and more. Jorge Perlaza has to be given credit. The runs he makes are on par with some of the top strikers of the world. We need to try to get him some more service throughout the match.”

(On the environment surrounding the match…) “It is always great to come up here. Everybody will realize when they leave JELD-WEN that it is more authentic. This environment is more close and connected to the team and the playing field. To be fair it is two great experiences. It is wonderful for MLS soccer to have two great setups first in Portland and second the Seattle Sounders.”

(On his view of the Seattle goal…) “It hit the back of the net. I can’t really remember the goal. A couple of times the ball got into the box that we didn’t pick up properly. Eric [Brunner] and [Jeremy] Hall challenged for the ball but Fernandez was able to find it in the back and finished it well. He is a high quality player. We showed a lot for coming back tonight.”

(On leaving this match with a tie…) “We take a lot of confidence with us. Sigi Schmid has done a tremendous job here and the whole organization is fantastic. They are a good team and we have come up here four months old and played well. We have to start showing that belief we have at home on to the road. I think we should that tonight.”

Troy Perkins – Timbers Goalkeeper
(On coming up to Seattle and matching their performance…) “We wanted to come on up here and prove we belonged. I think all the guys were committed to do that.”

(On the goal Seattle scored…) “Both defenders went for the same ball, a little bit of a miss communication. The ball just fell right to him and he made a good play.”

(On the weather causing any problems during the match…) “Typical Northwest weather. A little bit of rain, the field played incredibly fast. Our FieldTurf is a little bit different. It doesn’t play as fast when it is wet.”

Mamadou Danso – Timbers Defender
(On being satisfied with the draw…) “We came here for the win. We didn’t come here for the tie.”

(On coming through with a goal…) “I’m very excited to get the goal. I have been here for two seasons and I understand the rivalry. We just wanted to win here and it is really an over the top feeling. We have been practicing free kicks all week. The ball was really just a fifty-fifty ball and I was able to make a play on it.”

Kenny Cooper – Timbers Forward
(On the importance of getting a draw in Seattle…) “I think some teams find it difficult to come on up here and play. They get amazing support and the crowds support them really well. To be down and come back I think we should great character. It was a great point for us.”

(On the game living up to the hype…) “I think this is a game that fans have starting circling their calendars when the schedule comes out. The lead up to the game was a lot fun. As a player you crave to play in these games.

That time has come.

Although this will be the first match between the two sides at the MLS level, it is one that dates back to May 2, 1975 with the clubs playing in the NASL, Western Soccer League, A-League, and most recently, USL. It will be the 75th match between the rivals.

Sounders FC (3-3-4, 13pts) returns to Qwest Field after a two-game East Coast trip that saw the Rave Green lose to DC United 1-2 and draw with the Columbus Crew. The loss to DC is Seattle’s only defeat in their past 8 matches.

Seattle is looking for its third consecutive victory on the XBOX Pitch.

Brad Evans, who is leading Seattle with 4 goals, participated in full training with the club this week and should be good to go for the match. Mauro Rosales, who is leading the Sounders with 3 assists, will be a game time decision due to a strained hamstring.

The Timbers come in with 13points as well with their 4-3-1 record after beating Philadelphia last week maintaining their perfect record in the Rose City. However, Portland is 0-3-1 away from Jen-Weld.

Kenny Cooper leads the Portland attack with three goals on a team-high 18 shots (8 SOG). Jack Jewsbury has scored twice with three assists and has played all 720 minutes. Ghanaian midfielder Kalif Alhassan leads the team with four assists.

Seattle will need to watch out for the Timbers on set pieces. Portland has scored three goals from free kicks this season – most in MLS – and four goals out of their 11 for the year have come from set pieces.

Kickoff is slated for 8p and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Jair Marrufo will be the official.

NOTES

• Whether you are a member of a supporter group or not, please read the letter from the Emerald City Supporters’ leadership.
• Road Closures effecting traffic around Qwest.

Saturday’s match between Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers will be the 75th match between the two sides since 1975. Seattle holds and overall record of 40-27-7.

• NASL (1975-82): Sounder- 13 wins. Timbers- 8 wins
• Western Soccer League (1985-90): FC Seattle- 5 wins. FC portland/Timbers- 6 wins. 2 draws
• USL (2001-08): Sounders- 20 wins. Timbers- 13 wins. 5 draws
• US Open Cup (2009-10): Sounders- 2 wins