The game in 100 words (or less): In front of a home crowd of 64,358 supporters, the Seattle Sounders closed the gap on the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference playoff race with a 2-1 win. It was the fourth-largest attendance for a Sounders match at CenturyLink Field, and the fans got to cheer early as Obafemi Martins put the home side ahead in the opening ten minutes. Brad Evans would double the lead before the break and the Sounders held on as Portland pressed throughout the second half to take all three points from the Cascadia Cup clash.
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Three moments that mattered
6' -- Obafemi Martins opens the scoring for Seattle -- Portland had trouble clearing the ball which led to a mad scramble in the box, and Obafemi Martins cleaned up the scraps to put Seattle ahead early in the match. The Nigerian striker now has three goals in three matches since returning from injury.
42' -- Brad Evans buries a penalty to make it 2-0 -- Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey took down Obafemi Martins in the box, a clear penalty for Seattle. Brad Evans stepped up to the spot and finished into the bottom corner to double the Sounders’ lead.
58' -- Jack Jewsbury puts Portland on the board -- The Timbers got one back in the second half through Jack Jewsbury, his third goal of the season. Diego Valeri whipped in a corner kick where Jewsbury walked in unmarked at the back post for an easy finish.
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Man of the match: Stefan Frei -- As the Timbers pushed for an equalizer, the Seattle goalkeeper stood strong, making five saves in the win.
LINEUPS
Seattle: Frei, Fisher, Marshall, Torres, Mears, Neagle (Alonso, 68'), Evans, Friberg (Pineda, 79'), Pappa (Roldan, 63'), Martins, Valdez
Goals: Martins (6'), Evans (42', PEN)
Portland: Kwarasey, Villafana (Wallace, 83'), Ridgewell, Borchers, Powell, Jewsbury, Fochive (Asprilla, 78'), Melano (Urruti, 83'), Valeri, Nagbe, Adi
Goal: Jewsbury (58')