Seattle Sounders Vs. Portland Timbers: 3 Takeaways from 3-1 Win
By Paul Taylor
We take a look at three factors that helped decide the Seattle Sounders’ crucial 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers at CenturyLink Field.
Call it ‘Mission Impossible’. Call it ‘The Great Escape’. In fact, use whatever film title you deem appropriate, but the Seattle Sounders took another step towards rescuing their season, with a convincing win against the Portland Timbers.
The first half was, at times, a scrappy affair. This was always likely to be the case between these two Cascadian rivals, separated by just 170 miles.
However, the Sounders started to take control in the second half, gradually wearing down the reigning MLS Cup champions. By the end of the game, the home side had clinched a crucial 3-1 victory and gained revenge for the beat-down they suffered last month in Portland.
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In the process, the Sounders moved up one place in the Western Conference standings, edging ever closer to a playoff spot. They now find themselves within two points of the Timbers, still with a couple of games in hand.
Sunday’s win made it three on the bounce for Seattle and the team looks like they’re enjoying playing again. As Clint Dempsey told MLS‘s Ari Liljenwall and the rest of the media after the game: “It’s back to everybody having fun.
“We’re circulating the ball well, we’re getting good looks and it’s not just one person or the other…When you’re doing that, creating good chances and opportunities and getting good results, that’s when you’re having the most fun.”
Next up is a trip to Houston, to play a Dynamo team currently propping up the standings in the West. However, before we move on, here’s three factors which played a major part in the Sounders’ win on Sunday.
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