Ruidiaz brace propels Sounders to 3-0 win over Timbers

Sundays match up featured one of  Major League Soccer’s greatest soccer rivalries The Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders met for the first time this season. The two Cascadia Rivals did not play each during the MSL is Back  Tournament which the Timbers won. The  Sounders were bounced out of the Tournament playoff round in a 4-1 loss to LAFC.

HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH

The first half mimicked a typical heavy boxing match. Both teams played conservatively prodding, take some chances but never leaving their comfort zone. The Timbers were content with giving the Sounders the majority of possession ( 57- 43) and the majority of shots 5-1. The Timbers lethal counter earned them a corner and what looked like a goal by Chris Duvall. A video review ruled the Timbers  Eryk Williamson was in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.  For all their possession the Sounders were unable to produce that special moment.

SECOND HALF MISS FIRES

Both teams turned up the heat in the second half resulting in a frantic fast-paced tempo to the game.  The Sounder’s frantic pace out of the -break earned them a corner just three minutes into the second half. The  Sounders had a golden opportunity to take the lead. The chance went begging when midfielder Gustav Svensson’s right-footed shot was wide and high of the Timbers goal. The Timbers Jeremy Ebobisse missed a similar opportunity three minutes later when his header off a corner kick was high and wide.

RAUL  RUIDIAZ  DIFFERENCE MAKER

After sustaining a barrage of attack by the Timbers, the Sounders Raul  Ruidiaz delivered a blow in the 72nd minute . The  Peruvian’s right-footed shot squeaked by  Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark for the 1-0 lead.

The Sounders kept their foot on the pedal and the result was another goal by Ruidiaz.

 It was Ruidiaz’s 7^th  goal against the Timbers. The marksman forward has scored at least one goal in the last Portland matches.  Two minutes later Ruidiaz added an assist to his scorecard.  After receiving a pass in front of the Timber goal box pirouetted and fed a wide-open Kelvin Leerdam for the Sounder’s third goal.