It was billed as the return to excellence for the Seattle Sounders. After a month-long break, the Sounders were itching to kick-start the second half of their MLS season. Not better than your Cascadia Rival, the Portland Timbers. What the game turned out to be was a demolition job by the Timbers of the Sounders’ defense. Going into the contest, the Sounders were tied with Nashville for the fewest goals conceded at 11. The five goals the Timbers conceded against the Vancouver Whitecaps were the most since 2013, another Cascadia Rival.
A WOBBLY START
Injuries forced Brian Schmetzer to start debutantes Antonio Lopez at center back for Yeimar and Kalani Rienzi at right back for Alex Roldan. Hassani Synder Brunell started in the left pivot alongside Hassan Dotson for Cristian Roldan. What ailed the Sounders was not who but how they played. Thursday’s debacle was by far the worst game of the season for the Sounders. It was the visitors who started on the front foot and scored the game’s first goal in the 19th minute on a counterattack goal after a turnover on the left flank. In the counter, the Timbers lofted a perfect pass to striker Kevin Kelsy, who split defenders Jackson Ragen and headed the ball home.
The Sounders’ response to the goal was timid due to discombobulation between the midfield of Dotson and Brunell. Also out of sorts was the link-up play between Jesus Ferreira, Albert Rusnak, and Paul Rothock. The lack of continuity in the middle left forward Jordan Morris on a island searching for through balls that never came. The half ended with the Timbers leading by the lone goal and a sizable advantage in possession (56% to 44%), shots on target (four to two), and corners (six to zero).
HALFTIME SUBSTITUTION
A quad strain saw Danny Musoviski replace Jordan Morris to start the second half. The Timbers picked up right where they left off and forced Andrew Thomas to make another big save three minutes into the second half. The Sounders’ listless offense continued due to a lack of communication between the backline and midfield, which prevented them from getting the ball out of their defensive end.
TURNOVERS AND BAD DECISIONS
The Timbers doubled their lead in the 56th minute on center back Kamal Miller’s header after a Musovski foul. Reeling and shell-shocked, the Sounders allowed two more goals in the 60th and 63rd minutes to put the game to bed at 4-0. The Sounders were able to get one back in the 87th minute on a Dotson header from a Rusnack cross. The moment of election was quickly vanquished when the Timbers scored their fourth goal of the half and fifth of the game in the 8th minute of stoppage time for the 5-1 victory.
POST GAME NOTES
- Seattle sits in sixth place in the Western Conference with the result with 24 points (7-4-3).
- Tonight was the 125th time that Seattle and Portland have met dating back to 1974 in the North American Soccer League, with Sounders FC leading the all-time series 58-48-19.
- The two sides have played in the regular season 43 times since Portland joined MLS in 2011, with the series even at 16-16-11.
- Hassani Doston scored his first goal of the season in the 87th minute, with Albert Rusnák adding his fifth assist of MLS play.
- Seattle sits in third place in the Cascadia Cup standings with the result with no points (0-1-0). The Cascadia Cup represents a regional competition between Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. Vancouver currently leads the 2026 standings with six points (2-0-0), with Portland sitting second with three (1-2-0).
- Tonight marked the first league match for Seattle since MLS took an extended break for FIFA World Cup 2026™. The Rave Green’s last match took place on May 24 against LAFC.
- Kasey Keller, Jimmy Gabriel and Sigi Schmid were honored in a pre-match ceremony as they were inducted into the Eternal Sounders Circle of Legends.
- Seattle now hits the road for a two-match week, beginning against Austin FC on Wednesday, July 22 at Q2 Stadium (5:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM) before taking on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, July 25 (4:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Portland Timbers 5
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistants: Nick Uranga, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Malik Badawi
VAR: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 35,383
Weather: 65 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
POR – Kevin Kelsy (Jimer Fory, Diego Chará) 19’
POR – Kamal Miller (Brandon Bye, Ariel Lassiter) 56’
POR – Colin Bassett (David Da Costa, Kevin Kelsy) 60’
POR – Kevin Kelsy 63’
SEA – Hassani Dotson (Albert Rusnák) 87’
POR – Antony Aravena (David Da Costa, Felipe Mora) 90+8’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 41’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (caution) 49’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (Peter Kingston 64’), Antino Lopez (Stu Hawkins 84’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou – Captain; Hassani Dotson, Snyder Brunell (Osaze De Rosario 64’); Jesús Ferreira (Paul Arriola 64’), Albert Rusnák, Paul Rothrock; Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski HT)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Sebastian Gomez, Yu Tsukanome
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 7
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 5
Portland Timbers – James Pantemis; Brandon Bye, Finn Surman, Kamal Miller, Jimer Fory; David Da Costa, Diego Chará – Captain (João Ortiz 86’), Colin Bassett (Antony Aravena 72’); Antony Alves Santos (Ian Smith 90+1’), Kevin Kelsy (Felipe Mora 87’), Ariel Lassiter (João Caicedo 73’)
Substitutes not used: Eric Miller, Tyler Muse, Santiago Jura, Aime Bonetig
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 7
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 8
Saves: 6
– SOUNDERS FC –
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